Amphiphilic core–shell nanospheres obtained by intramicellar shell crosslinking of polymer micelles with poly(ethylene oxide) linkers

Abstract

Intramicellar crosslinking of the polymer chains within the shells of polystyrene-b-poly(acrylic acid) micelles by reaction with difunctional poly(ethylene oxide) afforded unimolecular amphiphilic core–shell nanospheres (50 nm hydrodynamic radius); the resulting surface hydrogel layer gives an approximate fivefold increase of particle volume from the dry state to aqueous solution.