Time-Resolved SAXS Studies During the Synthesis of Hydrolytically Degradable Poly(ε-caprolactone)-Poly(N,N'-dimethylacrylamide) Diblock Copolymer Nanoparticles in Aqueous Media.

ABSTRACT: The mechanism of nanoparticle formation during reverse sequence polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) is studied by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). More specifically, N,N'-dimethylacrylamide (DMAC) monomer is added to a trithiocarbonate-capped poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) precursor and initially polymerized in the bulk at 80 °C via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. SAXS indicates the unexpected formation of molten PCL droplets dispersed within DMAC monomer. After 5 min (14% DMAC conversion) at 80 °C, the reaction mixture is diluted with water, and the aqueous milieu is analyzed using a flow cell. A transient lamellar phase is formed immediately after water addition that subsequently transforms into nascent spherical nanoparticles. During the r

SUBMITTER: Farmer MAH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12790348 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature