Toroidal Triblock Copolymer Assemblies

A stable phase of toroidal, or ringlike, supramolecular assemblies was formed by combining dilute solution characteristics critical for both bundling of like-charged biopolymers and block copolymer micelle formation. The key to toroid versus classic cylinder micelle formation is the interaction of t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2004-10, Vol.306 (5693), p.94-97
Main Authors: Pochan, Darrin J., Chen, Zhiyun, Cui, Honggang, Hales, Kelly, Qi, Kai, Wooley, Karen L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acrylates - chemistry
Acrylic Resins - chemistry
Actins - chemistry
Amines
Applied sciences
Biopolymers - chemistry
Block copolymers
Casting
Chemistry
Copolymers
Cryopreservation
Cylinders
Diethylamines - chemistry
DNA - chemistry
Exact sciences and technology
Furans - chemistry
Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
Mathematical rings
Micelles
Molecular Structure
Nanostructured materials
Nucleic Acid Conformation
Organic Chemistry
Organic polymers
Persistence
Physicochemistry of polymers
Polymers
Polymers - chemistry
Properties
Properties and characterization
Protein Conformation
Solution and gel properties
Styrene - chemistry
Teeth
Toroids
Transmission electron microscopy
Water
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Summary:A stable phase of toroidal, or ringlike, supramolecular assemblies was formed by combining dilute solution characteristics critical for both bundling of like-charged biopolymers and block copolymer micelle formation. The key to toroid versus classic cylinder micelle formation is the interaction of the negatively charged hydrophilic block of an amphiphilic triblock copolymer with a positively charged divalent organic counterion. This produces a self-attraction of cylindrical micelles that leads to toroid formation, a mechanism akin to the toroidal bundling of semiflexible charged biopolymers such as DNA. The toroids can be kinetically trapped or chemically cross-linked. Insight into the mechanism of toroid formation can be gained by observation of intermediate structures kinetically trapped during film casting.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1102866