Formation of ultrathin scarf-like micelles, ultrathin disk-like micelles and spherical micelles by self-assembly of polyurethane diblock copolymers

Controlling the shape and size of the nanomicelles attracts great interest and is still challenging. Herein, we synthesized a kind of diblock copolymers with the hydrophilic block (poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether, PEG) and the core-forming block composed alternately by hydrophobic segments, hydrogen-bonding carbamates and pH-responsive groups. The synergy effect of the pH variation and the core-forming block length on the morphologies of the assemblies was well studied. Ultrathin scarf-like micelles, ultrathin disk-like micelles and spherical micelles were obtained by tailoring the pH values and the lengths of the core-forming blocks. The ultrathin scarf-like micelles and ultrathin disk-like micelles were proved to be composed of a lamellar bimolecular layer of the block copolymers. This study will supply an effective method to fabricate well-defined nanostructures. (c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, diblock copolymers were synthesized to control the shape of nanomicelles by adjusting the pH values and lengths of the core-forming blocks. Ultrathin scarf-like micelles, ultrathin disk-like micelles, and spherical micelles were obtained, providing an effective method for fabricating well-defined nanostructures.