“Micelles and polymersomes obtained by self assembly of polysaccharide based block copolymers”

摘要

The self-assembly of dextran-block-polystyrene (dexb-PS) block copolymers was investigated in solution. Thehydrophobic PS weight fraction in these blockcopolymers ranges from 7% to 92% w/w, whereas theaverage number molar mass of dextran was kept constantat 6600 g.mol-1. Self-assembly by direct dissolution inwater could be performed only for block copolymers witha low hydrophobic content (7% w/w) whereas mixtures oftetrahydrofuran and dimethylsulfoxide were required forhigher PS content, before transferring the structures intowater. Core-shell micelles, ovoids, and vesicles could beidentified upon characterization by light and neutronsscattering, atomic force microscopy, and transmissionelectron microscopy.