Control over the final morphology of nanoparticles is of great interest for several applications in a diversity of research fields, including drug-delivery, material science, and catalysis. Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) is a versatile technique that allows access to NPs with different morphologies (micelles, vesicles, worms) by simply changing the length of the solvophilic (corona) block, the length of the solvophobic (core) block or the concentration of the polymerization mixture. However, most of the research undertaken in the field of PISA usually employs reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) as the preferred polymerization method, hence limiting the types of monomer that can be employed and, as a consequence, the final application of such prepared nanostructures.<br/>Herein, we present the synthesis of block copolymer nanoparticles prepared by metal-catalyzed PISA (Figure 1). Spherical NPs were obtained that could be further modified before transfer into water and further characterization. This novel PISA methodology will provide the opportunity to use PISA on a wider range of monomers, broadening the horizons of PISA research.

Metal-catalyzed polymerization-induced self-assembly

2019 Fall National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.