Controlled Incorporation of Particles into the Central Portion of Block Copolymer Rods and Micelles

The controlled incorporation of preformed gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) into only the central portion of polystyrene(190)-block-poly(acrylic acid)(20) (PS190-b-PAA(20)) block copolymer rods and micelles is described in this note. The strategy involves the formation of the rods or micelles in solution in the presence of AuNPs coated with PS270-b-PAA(15) diblock copolymer. Statistical analysis shows that about 80% of the AuNPs are incorporated into the central ca. 4 vol % portion of the rods. The method does not require the block copolymers to bind, solvate, or otherwise interact during preparation. with the ions of the metal involved, nor does it involve postassembly chemical reactions within the aggregates, and is thus suitable for a wide range of particles and block copolymer systems.