Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers

Zachary Coe; Andrew Weems; Andrew P. Dove; Rachel K. O'Reilly

doi:10.3791/59772

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of B...

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JoVE Journal Chemistry

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers

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11:42 min

June 20, 2019

DOI: 10.3791/59772-v

Zachary Coe¹, Andrew Weems¹, Andrew P. Dove¹, Rachel K. O'Reilly¹

¹Department of Chemistry,University of Birmingham

Crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) displays the unique ability to fabricate cylindrical nanostructures of narrow length distributions. The organocatalyzed ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and subsequent chain extensions of methyl methacrylate and N,N-dimethyl acrylamide are demonstrated. A living CDSA protocol that produces monodisperse cylinders up to 500 nm in length is outlined.

Our protocol focuses on both ring-opening and RAFT polymerizations to produce block copolymer cylinders of a controlled length using living crystallization-driven self-assembly. The combination of both ring-opening and RAFT polymerizations allows the production of polymers with both semi-crystalline and functional regions. This opens the field of CDSA to other potential applications.

The success of the protocol resolves around the dryness of the starting reagents. Make sure the system never comes into contact with the atmosphere once the drying procedure has begun. The method requires knowledge in air-sensitive chemistry techniques.

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