Multilamellar Thermoresponsive Emulsions Stabilized with Biocompatible Semicrystalline Block Copolymers

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• 作者：Anna Manova ; Jekaterina Viktorova ; Jens Köhler ; Stefan Theiler ; Helmut Keul ; Alexey A. Piryazev ; Dimitri A. Ivanov ; Larisa Tsarkova ; Martin Möller
• 刊名：ACS Macro Letters
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：February 16, 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：5
• 期：2
• 页码：163-167
• 全文大小：391K
• ISSN：2161-1653

文摘

We demonstrate specific interface-templated crystallization behavior of biocompatible amphiphilic poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEO-b-PCL) block copolymers enabling triggered shaping of the curvature of the oil/water interface and controlled phase inversion, including the formation of stable multiple emulsions. Water-born anisotropic micelles of PEO-b-PCL block copolymers self-assemble at the oil–water interface in a multilayer form and undergo conformational rearrangements into unique semicrystalline multilamellar shells, for which curvature (type of emulsion) can be tuned by the molecular architecture (volume fractions of the blocks) and/or by the temperature. The latter trigger affects both the solubility of the PEO block in water and the semicrystalline state of the PCL block. Remarkably, multilamellar semicrystalline shells provide both long-term stability and enhanced barrier properties of toluene–water emulsions, as well as the fast change of the bending, leading to thermo-induced phase inversion. These findings signify the development of novel practical mechanisms for controlled triggered encapsulation and release systems.