Nanoscale cage-like structures derived from polyisoprene-containing shell cross-linked nanoparticle templates

Hollowed materials of nanoscopic dimensions offer exciting possibilities in a number of fields such as therapeutics and imaging. The production of nanoscopic cage-like materials is described, based upon the excavation of shell cross-linked nanoparticle (SCK) templates. This report focuses upon extensive characterization of the ozonolysis reaction conditions used to degrade the core material, which demonstrates that thirty minutes of ozone treatment is optimal. The resulting nanocage is also shown to undergo pH tunable hydrodynamic diameter variations and to demonstrate a loss of hydrophobic guest interactions, relative to the SCK precursors.