Encapsulation of Nanoparticles in Block Copolymer Micellar Aggregates by Directed Supramolecular Assembly

摘要

Incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) into self-assembled block copolymers offers a powerful route for the formation of hybrid materials with desired optical, electronic, and magnetic properties through the choice of NPs and their distribution in polymer assemblies. Nanostructured block copolymer domains act as a scaffold that directs not only the position of the NPs but also their orientation. NPs/polymer hybrid materials have been prepared in solution by incorporating one or multiple hydrophobic NPs into a hydrophobic core of spherical amphiphilic block copolymer micelles. Careful control of micellization conditions will allow other hydrophobic ingredients to co-assemble with the amphiphilic polymers, resulting in micelles that encapsulate therapeutic molecules and NPs for imaging and targeting.