Controllable self‐assembly of polystyrene‐block‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine)

Block copolymers can form various ordered structures by self‐assembly, and their composites with inorganic materials may give surprising properties. This review summarizes recent developments in the preparation, mechanism and application of various types of self‐assembly of polystyrene‐block‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐b‐P2VP). The focus of the review is on how to control the self‐assembly of the dynamic and ordered structure of PS‐b‐P2VP based materials by applying effective factors such as thermal annealing, solvent annealing, block composition and blending. Moreover, the combination of the self‐assembly of PS‐b‐P2VP and various nanoparticles, with potentials in drug delivery, sensors and catalysis, is highlighted. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Two‐dimensional regular nanopatterning on block copolymer substrate having lamellar morphology using star‐hyperbranched nanospheres by electrostatic interaction

Hyperbranched polystyrenes (PS) were prepared by living radical photopolymerization of 4‐vinylbenzyl N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamate as an inimer under UV irradiation. The star‐hyperbranched copolymers were derived by grafting from surface N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamate groups of hyperbranched macroinitiator with t‐butyl methacrylate in the presence of N,N‐tetraethylthiuram disulfide. We obtained poly(methacrylic acid) star‐hyperbranched PS nanospheres by hydrolysis of poly(t‐butyl methacrylate)‐grafted chains. We established two‐dimensional (2D) regular nanopatterning by aligning continuously such nanospheres on poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (P2VP) lamellar layers of PS‐block‐P2VP diblock copolymer film. Electrostatic interaction between nanosphere surface having negative charges (? COOCs) and P2VP lamellar layer acted effectively for the 2D nanopattern formation. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 4206–4210, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of polystyrene/poly(4‐vinylpyridine) triblock copolymers by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and their self‐assembled aggregates in water

Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) was developed for the controlled preparation of polystyrene (PS)/poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (P4VP) triblock copolymers. First, PS and P4VP homopolymers were prepared using dibenzyl trithiocarbonate as the chain transfer agent (CTA). Then, PS‐b‐P4VP‐b‐PS and P4VP‐b‐PS‐b‐P4VP triblock copolymers were synthesized using as macro‐CTA the obtained homopolymers PS and P4VP, respectively. The synthesized polymers had relatively narrower molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n < 1.25), and the polymerization was controlled/living. Furthermore, the polymerization rate appeared to be lower when styrene was polymerized using P4VP as the macro‐CTA, compared with polymerizing 4‐vinylpyridine using PS as the macro‐CTA. This was attributed to the different transfer constants of the P4VP and PS macro‐CTAs to the styrene and the 4‐vinylpyridine, respectively. The aggregates of the triblock copolymers with different compositions and chain architectures in water also were investigated, and the results are presented. Reducing the P4VP block length and keeping the PS block constant favored the formation of rod aggregates. Moreover, the chain architecture in which the P4VP block was in the middle of the copolymer chain was rather favorable to the rod assembly because of the entropic penalty associated with the looping of the middle‐block P4VP to form the aggregate corona and tailing of the end‐block PS into the core of the aggregates. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 1017–1025, 2003     

Preparation,characterization, and thermal properties of polystyrene‐block‐quaternized poly(4‐vinylpyridine)/Montmorillonite nanocomposites

Polystyrene‐block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐b‐P4VP) was synthesized by two steps of reversible addition‐fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization of styrene (St) and 4‐vinylpyridine (4VP) successively. After P4VP block was quaternized with CH₃I, PS‐b‐quaternized P4VP/montmorillonite (PS‐b‐QP4VP/MMT) nanocomposites were prepared by cationic exchange reactions of quaternary ammonium ion in the PS‐b‐QP4VP with ions in MMT. The results obtained from X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images demonstrate that the block copolymer/MMT nanocomposites are of intercalated and exfoliated structures, and also a small amount of silicates' layers remained in the original structure; differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) results show that the nanocomposites displayed higher glass transition temperature (T_g) and higher thermal stability than that of the corresponding copolymers. The blending of PS‐b‐QP4VP/MMT with commercial PS makes MMT to be further separated, and the MMT was homogeneously dispersed in the polymer matrix. The enhancement of thermal stability of PS/PS‐b‐QP4VP/MMT is about 20°C in comparison with commercial PS. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102:1950–1958, 2006     

Synthesis of block copolymers with thermodynamically compatible chain segments: di‐ and triblock copolymers of polystyrene and poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide)

Mono‐ and bifunctional poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) macroinitiators for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) were prepared by esterification of mono‐ and bishydroxy telechelic PPO with 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide. The macroinitiators were used for ATRP of styrene to give block copolymers with PPO and polystyrene (PS) segments, namely PPO‐block‐PS and PS‐block‐PPO‐block‐PS. Various ligands were studied in combination with CuBr as ATRP catalysts. Kinetic investigations revealed controlled polymerization processes for certain ligands and temperature ranges. Thermal analysis of the block copolymers by means of DSC revealed only one glass transition temperature as a result of the compatibility of the PS and PPO chain segments and the formation of a single phase; this glass transition temperature can be adjusted over a wide temperature range (ca 100–199 °C), depending on the composition of the block copolymer. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

A new synthetic approach to asymmetric amphiphilic ABA′ block copolymers by ATRP and click reactions

Well‐defined asymmetric amphiphilic ABA′ block copolymers composed of poly(ethylene oxide) monomethylene ether (MPEO) with different molecular weights as A or A′ block and poly(styrene) (PS) as B block were synthesized by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and click reactions. First, bromine‐terminated diblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide) monomethylene ether‐block‐poly(styrene) (MPEO‐PS‐Br) was prepared by ATRP of styrene initiated with macroinitiator MPEO‐Br, which was prepared from the esterification of MPEO and 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide. Then, the azido‐terminated diblock copolymers MPEO‐PS‐N₃ were prepared through the bromine substitution reaction with sodium azide. Propargyl‐terminated MPEO with a different molecular weight was prepared under the basic condition from propargyl alcohol and p‐toluenesulfonyl‐terminated MPEO, which was prepared through the esterification of MPEO and p‐toluenesulfochloride using pyridine as solvent. Asymmetric amphiphilic ABA′ block copolymers, with a wide range of number–average molecular weights from 1.92 × 10⁴ to 2.47 × 10⁴ and a narrow polydispersity from 1.03 to 1.05, were synthesized via a click reaction of the azido‐terminated diblock copolymers and the propargyl‐terminated MPEO in the presence of CuBr and 1,1,4,7,7‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) catalyst system. The structures of these ABA′ block copolymers and corresponding precursors were characterized by NMR, IR, and GPC. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Triblock copolymers of methyl methacrylate/N‐vinyl pyrrolidone and their hydrophilication effects on poly(vinylidene fluoride) porous membranes

The new amphiphilic triblock copolymers of poly(N‐vinyl pyrrolidone‐b‐methyl methacrylate‐b‐N‐vinyl pyrrolidone) (P(VP‐b‐MMA‐b‐VP)) were synthesized via a reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization route. Using these copolymers as additives in casting solutions, the porous blend membranes of poly (vinylidene fluoride) and P(VP‐b‐MMA‐b‐VP) were prepared following a typical nonsolvent induced phase separation process. The influences of P(VP‐b‐MMA‐b‐VP) on the morphologies of the blend membranes were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The chemical compositions in membrane surface layers were measured by X‐ray photoelectron measurement. Water contact angle and water flux experiments were used to evaluate the hydrophilicity and permeation properties of the blend membranes. It was found that the P(VP‐b‐MMA‐b‐VP) copolymers could be retained in membrane stably in membrane formation and application process. The copolymers could enrich in surface layer and endowed the blend membrane with efficient hydrophilicity and higher water permeation flux. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Temperature-dependent interaction parameters of poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(2-vinyl pyridine) and poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(4-vinyl pyridine) pairs

Temperature-dependent interaction parameters (α) of poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (PMMA/P2VP) pair and PMMA/poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (PMMA/P4VP) pair were obtained from the SAXS profiles at various temperatures, and curve fitting to the random phase approximation theory. For this purpose, symmetric P2VP-block-PMMA and P4VP-block-PMMA copolymers were synthesized anionically. The molecular weights of both block copolymers were controlled to exhibit the disordered state over the entire experimental temperatures. We found that the value of α for PMMA/P4VP was larger than PMMA/P2VP, similar to polystyrene (PS)/poly(vinyl pyridine) pairs. However, the difference between in α between PMMA/P2VP and PMMA/P4VP was much smaller than that between PS/P2VP and PS/P4VP. This might be attributed to the hydrophilic PMMA block compared with hydrophobic PS block. Finally, the order-to-disorder transition temperature for symmetric P2VP-block-PMMA copolymers was determined by small angle X-ray scattering and birefringence methods.     

PEG 400/Paraffin oil non‐aqueous emulsions stabilized by PBut‐Block‐P2VP block copolymers

For the preparation of PEG 400 in paraffin oil non‐aqueous biocompatible emulsions, the stabilization efficiency was compared for two well‐defined poly(butadiene)‐block‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (PBut‐block‐P2VP) block copolymers, with similar molecular weights but different compositions. The PBut₁₂₈‐block‐P2VP₅₀ and PBut₁₈₉‐block‐P2VP₃₇ samples, designated as copolymer A and B, respectively, are self‐organized in paraffin oil as micelles with a P2VP core and a PBut corona. The PEG 400/paraffin oil emulsion characteristics were determined as a function of the copolymers concentrations and phase ratios. Higher static and shear stabilities were obtained for emulsions stabilized by copolymer B than for those obtained in the presence of copolymer A . A further difference concerns the droplet size, relative viscosity, and loss modulus values obtained at a given dispersed phase volume fraction. At constant copolymer concentrations, it appeared that copolymer B , with a longer PBut sequence, is a more efficient emulsifier and stabilizer than copolymer A . © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41390.     

Self‐assembled structures in blends of disordered and lamellar block copolymers: SAXS,SANS and TEM study

BACKGROUND: The phase behaviour of copolymers and their blends is of great interest due to the phase transitions, self‐assembly and formation of ordered structures. Phenomena associated with the microdomain morphology of parent copolymers and phase behaviour in blends of deuterated block copolymers of polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), i.e. (dPS‐block‐dPMMA)₁/(dPS‐block‐PMMA)₂, were investigated using small‐angle X‐ray scattering, small‐angle neutron scattering and transmission electron microscopy as a function of molecular weight, concentration of added copolymers and temperature. RESULTS: Binary blends of the diblock copolymers having different molecular weights and different original micromorphology (one copolymer was in a disordered state and the others were of lamellar phase) were prepared by a solution‐cast process. The blends were found to be completely miscible on the molecular level at all compositions, if their molecular weight ratio was smaller than about 5. The domain spacing D of the blends can be scaled with M_n by D ～ M_n^2/3 as predicted by a previously published postulate (originally suggested and proved for blends of lamellar polystyrene‐block‐polyisoprene copolymers). CONCLUSIONS: The criterion for forming a single‐domain morphology (molecularly mixed blend) taking into account the different solubilization of copolymer blocks has been applied to explain the changes in microdomain morphology during the self‐assembling process in two copolymer blends. Evidently the criterion, suggested originally for blends of lamellar polystyrene‐block‐polyisoprene copolymers, can be employed to a much broader range of block copolymer blends. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(D,L‐lactic acid) copolymer nanoparticles as carriers for transdermal drug delivery

This work evaluates the transdermal drug delivery properties of amphiphilic copolymer self‐assembled nanoparticles by skin penetration experiments in vitro. Paclitaxel‐loaded methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(D ,L ‐lactic acid) diblock copolymer nanoparticles (PNPs) were prepared by a solid dispersion technique and were applied to the surface of excised full‐thickness rat skin in Franz diffusion cells. HPLC, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ¹H NMR were used to assay the receptor fluid. The results show that the amphiphilic copolymer nanoparticles with the entrapped paclitaxel are able to penetrate rat skin. Ethanol can improve the delivery of PNPs and increase the cumulative amount of paclitaxel in the receptor fluid by 3 times. Fluorescence microscopy measurements indicate that the PNPs can penetrate the skin not only via appendage routes including sweat ducts and hair follicles but also via epidermal routes. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Environmentally responsive amphiphilic cationic block copolymers synthesized by 2,2,6,6‐Tetramethylpiperidinyloxy mediated living free‐radical polymerization

Polychloromethylstyrene (PCMS)‐block‐polystyrene (PS) copolymers were prepared by controlled free‐radical polymerization in the presence of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinooxy and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) initiator. The PCMS‐b‐PS copolymers had narrow molecular weight distributions, and the block lengths were controlled by the reaction time and the molar ratios of chloromethylstyrene/AIBN and styrene/PCMS macroinitiator. The block copolymers were further quaternized with triethylamine. The amphiphilic cationic block copolymers formed colloidal particles; the effects of the pH value, salt concentration, and solvent polarity on the particle size were investigated with a dynamic light scattering analyzer. The average colloid size increased with increasing pH value and salt concentration. This implied that the colloid formed a protonated hydrophilic shell and hydrophobic styrene core in water. Furthermore, with the addition of tetrahydrofuran to the aqueous solution, the styrene segments in the core could be inverted to the outside of the colloid. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Phase behavior of binary and ternary blends of poly(styrene‐co‐methacrylic acid), poly(styrene‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine), and poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide)

Poly(styrene‐co‐methacrylic acid) (PSMA) and poly(styrene‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine) (PS4VP) of different compositions were prepared and characterized. The phase behavior of these copolymers as binary PSMA/PS4VP mixtures or with poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO) as PPO/PSMA or PPO/PS4VP and PPO/PSMA/PS4VP ternary blends was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). This study showed that PPO was miscible with PS4VP containing up to 15 mol % 4‐vinylpyridine (4VP) but immiscible with PS4VP‐30 (where the number following the hyphen refers to the percentage 4VP in the polymer) and PSMA‐20 (where the number following the hyphen refers to the percentage methacrylic acid in the polymer) over the entire composition range. To examine the morphology of the immiscible blends, scanning electron microscopy was used. Because of the hydrogen‐bonding specific interactions that occurred between the carboxylic groups of PSMA and the pyridine groups of PS4VP, chloroform solutions of PSMA‐20 and PS4VP‐15 formed interpolymer complexes. The obtained glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) of the PSMA‐20/PS4VP‐15 complexes were found to be higher than those calculated from the additivity rule. Although, depending on the content of 4VP, the shape of the T_g of the PPO/PS4VP blends changed from concave to S‐shaped in the case of the miscible blends, two T_g were observed with each PPO/PS4VP‐30 and PPO/PS4VP‐40 blend. The thermal stability of the PSMA‐20/PS4VP‐15 interpolymer complexes was studied by thermogravimetry. On the basis of the obtained results, the phase behavior of the ternary PPO/PSMA‐20/PS4VP‐15 blends was investigated by DSC. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Formation of silver nanoparticles created in situ in an amphiphilic block copolymer film

In this work, silver nanoparticles were synthesized with an amphiphilic diblock copolymer, polystyrene‐block‐poly(1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) (PS‐b‐PVP), as a template film. First, microphase‐separated amphiphilic PS‐b‐PVP (70 : 30 wt %) was synthesized through atom transfer radical polymerization. The self‐assembled block copolymer film was used to template the growth of silver nanoparticles by the introduction of a silver trifluoromethanesulfonate precursor and an ultraviolet irradiation process. The in situ formation of silver nanoparticles with an average size of 4–6 nm within the block copolymer template film was confirmed with transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy also demonstrated the selective incorporation and in situ formation of silver nanoparticles within the hydrophilic poly(1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) domains, which were mostly due to the stronger interaction strength of the silver with the carbonyl oxygens of poly(1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) in the block copolymer. This work provides a simple route for the in situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles within a polymer film. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008     

Synthesis and properties of polystyrene‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐polystyrene triblock copolymers

A series of well‐defined and property‐controlled polystyrene (PS)‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)‐b‐polystyrene (PS) triblock copolymers were synthesized by atom‐transfer radical polymerization, using 2‐bromo‐propionate‐end‐group PEO 2000 as macroinitiatators. The structure of triblock copolymers was confirmed by ¹H‐NMR and GPC. The relationship between some properties and molecular weight of copolymers was studied. It was found that glass‐transition temperature (T_g) of copolymers gradually rose and crystallinity of copolymers regularly dropped when molecular weight of copolymers increased. The copolymers showed to be amphiphilic. Stable emulsions could form in water layer of copolymer–toluene–water system and the emulsifying abilities of copolymers slightly decreased when molecular weight of copolymers increased. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 727–730, 2006     

Architecture of nanostructured polymers by segregated domain crosslinking of block‐graft copolymer micelles

Polystyrene‐block‐polyisoprene (PS‐block‐PI; high 3,4‐structure) diblock copolymer was prepared by living anionic polymerization. For transfer into a reactive intermediate, the hydroxylation of the double bonds of PI block was achieved by hydroboration, followed by oxidation. Esterification of the hydroxy‐derivative with stearoyl chloride or decanoyl chloride resulted in block‐graft copolymers composed of PS (flexible chain)‐grafted long alkane (stretched chains). After partial chloromethylation of PS block copolymer, photofunctional N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamate (DC) groups were introduced into such pendant sites by reaction with the corresponding sodium salt. We studied the self‐assemblies of photofunctional block‐graft copolymers in a selective solvent, such as heptane, and constructed nanostructured polymers by crosslinking PS cores under UV irradiation. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of semi‐crystalline poly(ε‐caprolactone) and non‐crystalline polylactide blocks on the thermal properties of polydimethylsiloxane‐based block copolymers

Poly(A)‐block‐poly(B), poly(A)‐block‐poly(B)‐block‐poly(A) and B(A)₂ block copolymers were prepared through coordinated anionic ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone (CL) and lactic acid (LA) using hydroxy‐terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as initiator. A wide range of well‐defined combinations of PDMS‐block‐PCL and PDMS‐block‐PLA diblock copolymers, PCL‐block‐PDMS‐block‐PCL and PLA‐block‐PDMS‐block‐PLA triblock copolymers and star‐PDMS(PCL)₂ copolymers were thus obtained. The number‐average molar masses and the structure of the synthesized block copolymers were identified using various analytical techniques. The thermal properties of these copolymers were established using differential scanning calorimetry. Considering PDMS‐block‐PCL copolymers, the results demonstrate the complex effect of polymer architecture and PCL block length on the ability of the PDMS block to crystallize or not. In the case of diblock copolymers, crystallization of PCL blocks originated from stacking of adjacent chains inducing the extension of the PDMS block that can easily crystallize. In the case of star copolymers, the same tendency as in triblock copolymers is observed, showing a limited crystallization of PDMS when the length of the PCL block increases. In the case of PDMS‐block‐PLA copolymers, melting and crystallization transitions of the PLA block are never observed. Considering the diblock copolymers, PDMS sequences have the ability to crystallize. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Ab initio emulsion RAFT polymerization of vinylidene chloride mediated by amphiphilic macro‐RAFT agents

An amphiphilic copolymer poly(acrylic acid)‐block‐poly(styrene) (PAA‐b‐PS) with a trithiocarbonate reactive group was used in the ab initio reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) emulsion polymerization of vinylidene chloride (VDC). The fast polymerization and high conversion were achieved. The parameters for a good control over the formation of well‐defined PAA‐b‐PS‐b‐PVDC amphiphilic block copolymers and self‐stabilized latexes were identified. To improve the emulsion stability and prevent the desorption of water‐soluble initiating radicals, the acid groups of PAA‐b‐PS were neutralized by NaOH at the later stage of polymerization. The PAA‐b‐PS‐b‐PVDC block copolymer with a high molar mass of 30 kg mol⁻¹ and the stable latex with 30 wt % solid content was obtained. The kinetics of RAFT emulsion copolymerization of VDC in a living manner was first investigated. The as‐prepared PAA‐b‐PS‐b‐PVDC latex particles were further used as seeds in the emulsion polymerization of styrene, enabling the preparation of novel PAA‐b‐PS‐b‐PVDC‐b‐PS tetra‐block copolymers with a molar mass of 76 kg mol⁻¹ and a relatively low molecular weight distribution of 1.6. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40391.     

Synthesis of amphiphilic temperature‐sensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐block‐poly(tetramethylene carbonate) block copolymers and micellar characterization

Amphiphilic thermally sensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐block‐poly(tetramethylene carbonate) block copolymers were synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of tetramethylene carbonate with hydroxyl‐terminated poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAAm) as macro‐initiator in the presence of stannous octoate as catalyst. The synthesis involved PNiPAAm bearing a single terminal hydroxyl group prepared by telomerization using 2‐hydroxyethanethiol as a chain‐transfer agent. The copolymers were characterized using ¹H NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. Their solutions show reversible changes in optical properties: transparent below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and opaque above the LCST. The LCST depends on the polymer composition and the media. Owing to their amphiphilic characteristics, the block copolymers form micelles in the aqueous phase with critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) in the range 1.11–22.9 mg L^?1. Increasing the hydrophobic segment length or decreasing the hydrophilic segment length in the amphiphilic diblock copolymers produces lower CMCs. A core‐shell structure of the micelles is evident from ¹H NMR analyses of the micelles in D₂O. Transmission electron microscopic analyses of micelle morphology show a spherical structure of both blank and drug‐loaded micelles. The blank and drug‐loaded micelles have an average size of less than 130 nm. Observations show high drug‐entrapment efficiency and drug‐loading content for the drug‐loaded micelles. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Structural effect of emulsifiers on the emulsion stability of a water/benzene mixture

Core–shell‐type microspheres with microphase‐separated shells of polystyrene (PS) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (microsphere_block: molar ratio: PS/PEG 49.1/45.9 mol %; M_w: PS chain: 1.07 × 10⁴, PEG chain 1.0 × 10⁴; the ratio of arm numbers of PEG to PS: 1.0; microsphere_graft: molar ratio: PS/PEG 33.8/55.9 mol %; M_w: PS chain: 1.54 × 10⁴, PEG chain 1.0 × 10⁴, the ratio of arm numbers of PEG to PS: 2.55) were synthesized by crosslinking of spherical domains of poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and poly(4‐vinyl pyridine) (P4VP) of the microphase‐separated films of poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)‐block‐polystyrene triblock terpolymer (M_n: 2.18 × 10⁴; molar ratio: PS 49.1 mol %, PHEMA 5.0 mol %, PEG 45.9 mol %) and polystyrene‐block‐[poly(4‐vinyl pyridine)‐graft‐poly(ethylene glycol)] block–graft copolymer (M_n: 4.56 × 10⁴; molar ratio: PS 33.8 mol %, P4VP 10.3 mol %, PEG 55.9 mol %; branch number of PEG: 2.55), respectively. The structures of microphase‐separated films were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and small‐angle X‐ray scattering. The effects of the arm number ratio of PS to PEG and the total arm number on the stability of the water/benzene emulsion were investigated. The emulsion stability of oil in water was improved by using the microsphere synthesized with the microsphere_graft. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 321–331, 2004