Fluorescent Block Copolymer Micelles That Can Self-Report on Their Assembly and Small Molecule Encapsulation.

ABSTRACT: Block copolymer micelles have been prepared with a dithiomaleimide (DTM) fluorophore located in either the core or shell. Poly(triethylene glycol acrylate)-b-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (P(TEGA)-b-P(tBA)) was synthesized by RAFT polymerization, with a DTM-functional acrylate monomer copolymerized into either the core forming P(tBA) block or the shell forming P(TEGA) block. Self-assembly by direct dissolution afforded spherical micelles with R_h of ca. 35 nm. Core-labeled micelles (CLMs) displayed bright emission (Φ_f = 17%) due to good protection of the fluorophore, whereas shell-labeled micelles (SLMs) had lower efficiency emission due to collisional quenching in the solvated corona. The transition from micelles to polymer

SUBMITTER: Robin MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4819497 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature