Electrostatic hierarchical co-assembly in aqueous solutions of two oppositely charged double hydrophilic diblock copolymers

Ilja K. Voets (Corresponding author), Arie de Keizer, Frans A.M. Leermakers, Antoine Debuigne, Robert Jérôme, Christophe Detrembleur, Martien A. Cohen Stuart

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The formation of spherical micelles in aqueous solutions of poly(N-methyl-2-vinyl pyridinium iodide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide), P2MVP-b-PEO and poly(acrylic acid)-block-poly(vinyl alcohol), PAA-b-PVOH has been investigated with light scattering-titrations, dynamic and static light scattering, and 1H 2D Nuclear Overhauser Effect Spectroscopy. Complex coacervate core micelles, also called PIC micelles, block ionomer complexes, and interpolyelectrolyte complexes, are formed in thermodynamic equilibrium under charge neutral conditions (pH 8, 1 mM NaNO3, T = 25 °C) through electrostatic interaction between the core-forming P2MVP and PAA blocks. 2D 1H NOESY NMR experiments show no cross-correlations between PEO and PVOH blocks, indicating their segregation in the micellar corona. Self-consistent field calculations support the conclusion that these C3Ms are likely to resemble a 'patched micelle'; that is, micelles featuring a 'spheres-on-sphere' morphology.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2913-2925
Number of pages13
JournalEuropean Polymer Journal
Volume45
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Block-copolymers
  • Complex coacervation
  • Micelles
  • Polyelectrolyte
  • Polyion complex micelles
  • Self-assembly

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