The development of hybrid systems with readily tunable properties to afford nanomaterials with unique physiochemical features has drawn the attention of researchers over the last decade. Hybrid polymer micelles �systems prepared from the coassembly of polymer amphiphiles exhibiting distinct chemical properties- find multiple applications in the field of drug delivery and targeting.  Aside from the possibilities enabled by the combination of chemically distinct blocks, the level of complexity of macromolecular aggregates can also be modulated through kinetic manipulation of the assembly process, yielding structures in different states of equilibrium. Here we report on the formation of hybrid nanoparticles from architecturally distinct block copolymer amphiphiles by controlling the molar composition of a blend and the kinetic features of the assembly process.  Specifically, we examined and contrasted the co-assembly of linear and linear-dendritic amphiphiles under equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions.  Through careful manipulation of the amphiphile architecture, blend composition and final solvent content, hybrid nanoparticles of controllable size and patchiness could be readily achieved.  The stability of hybrid nanoparticles towards protein solutions/serum and red blood cells is subsequently assessed in vitro using FRET, DLS and isothermal titration calorimetry techniques.  Results show that amphiphile architecture plays a significant role on protein-nanoparticle interactions.

Self-assembly of architecturally distinct block copolymers:  Effect of amphiphile structure on protein-nanoparticle interactions

247th National Meeting (2014)

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