Self-Assembly and Characterization of Block Copolymer Aggregates with a Range of Potential Applications

这项工作的重点是嵌段共聚物（BC）在溶液中的自组装，以产生胶束，棒，特别是囊泡，其结合联合收割机相对小的尺寸与空间适合于加载的疏水性和亲水性材料;释放曲线将进行研究。 其他领域是纳米颗粒（NP）的形成，它们的封装和BC聚集体中的精确定位（在催化应用中感兴趣）。*1）在顺序多层中的各种聚集体的逐层（LBL）组装，以产生含有带相反电荷的聚集体层的平面纳米结构。大的囊泡也可以作为基础结构，周围交替层的带相反电荷的小囊泡和/或胶束，以创建多层纳米胶囊类似黑莓。这些结构在催化和多种成分的控制释放中具有潜在的意义。因此，可以将不同的催化物质结合到不同的层中，以尝试在薄层形式内顺序催化反应。2)纳米颗粒（NPs）的精确定位。由于NP的对称定位已经取得了成功，现在提出探索精确的不对称定位，例如仍然在囊泡壁内，但比另一个（内部或外部）更靠近一个界面。这将是感兴趣的囊泡，其中的外部和内部接口包含不同的冠链。其他可能性包括一种类型的NP定位在囊泡壁或胶束核心的疏水中心，另一种NP定位在囊泡的内/外界面或胶束界面。这对于可能在催化中的用途将具有特别的意义。3)从BC聚集体填充和释放试剂。多组分释放将从包含两种或更多种成分的单一系统或从不同层中具有不同组分的平面或球形组件中进行探索。在组合系统的寿命有限且释放速率需要缓慢的条件下，相互作用组分将是令人感兴趣的。4)生物相容性和生物可降解聚合物的形态控制。最近制备的层状结构的释放性能将与球形聚集体进行比较。* 在成功完成后，拟议的研究将使我们能够设计能够从亚微米尺寸的骨料中控制释放成分的系统。如果需要，这些成分可能在释放过程中发生催化化学反应，在储存时产品降解可能是一个问题的条件下。对加拿大特别有利的潜在应用包括农业或药理学环境中的释放（和催化）。

The work focuses on block copolymer (BC) self-assembly in solution, to yield micelles, rods and especially vesicles, which combine relatively small size with space suitable for loading of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials; release profiles will be studied.  Other areas are the formation of nano-particles (NPs), their encapsulation and precise localization within BC aggregates (of interest in catalytic applications). ***1) Layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of various aggregates in sequential multilayers to yield planar nanostructures containing oppositely charged aggregate layers. Large vesicles can also serve as the base structure with surrounding alternating layers of oppositely charged small vesicles and/or micelles to create multilayered nano-capsules resembling blackberries. These structures are of potential interest in catalysis and in the controlled release of multiple ingredients. Thus, one could incorporate different catalytic species into different layers to attempt sequentially catalyzed reactions within a thin layer format.***2) Precise localization of nanoparticles (NPs). Since success has been achieved with symmetric localization of NPs, it is now proposed to explore precise asymmetric localization, e.g. still within a vesicle wall, but closer to one of the interfaces than the other (internal or external). This would be of interest for vesicles in which the exterior and interior interfaces contain different corona chains. Other possibilities include the localization of one type of NP in the hydrophobic center of the vesicle wall or micelle core, with another NP localized at the interior/exterior interface of the vesicle or at the micelle interface. This would be of special interest for for possible use in catalysis.***3) Filling and release of agents from BC aggregates. Multi-component release will be explored from either single systems containing two or more ingredients or from planar or spherical assemblies with the different components in different layers. Interacting components would be of interest under conditions where the combined system has a limited lifetime and the release rate needs to be slow.***4) Morphological control in biocompatible and biodegradable polymers. Release properties from recently prepared lamellar structures will be compared with those from spherical aggregates. ***Upon successful completion, the proposed research will allow us to design systems capable of controlled release of ingredients from sub-micron size aggregates. If desired it may be possible for those ingredients to undergo catalyzed chemical reactions in the release process under conditions were product degradation on storage may be a problem. Potential applications, with special benefits to Canada, include release (and catalysis) in agricultural or pharmacological settings.**