On the Colloidal Stability of Spherical Copolymeric Micelles.

ABSTRACT: Using self-consistent field (SCF) calculations, we systematically quantify the pair interactions between spherical diblock copolymer micelles following a bottom-up approach. From the equilibrium properties of self-assembling micelles at different separation distances, a simple yet insightful pair interaction can be extracted. The SCF results match with an analytical model based upon closed expressions for the free energy change per diblock copolymer in the micelle. To gain insights into the colloidal stability of dilute micelle suspensions, the second virial coefficient normalized by the undistorted micelle volume (B ₂ ^*) is evaluated. For stable micelles (B ₂ ^* ≳ -6), we find a weak dependence of B ₂ ^*

SUBMITTER: Garcia AG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6312634 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature