In situ monitoring of PISA morphologies

Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) is a facile method to obtain block copolymer aggregates with defined morphologies. However, the transitions between these morphologies have been difficult to monitor directly in real-time during the polymerization. Herein, we describe a straightforward and readily accessible in situ method to monitor the evolution of nanostructure via changes in internal hydrophobicity during the PISA process using a polymer-tethered pyrene fluorescent probe. We were able to correlate morphological transitions with changes of the pyrene emission and gain unprecedented insight into the evolution of core hydrophobicity during PISA.

Automated summary

This study introduces a simple and accessible in situ method to monitor the evolution of nanostructure during the PISA process using a polymer-tethered pyrene fluorescent probe, providing unprecedented insight into the changes in core hydrophobicity.