Block copolymer micelles for drug delivery: design, characterization and biological significance

Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles as drug delivery devices

Block copolymer (BCP) self-assembly has attracted considerable attention for many decades because it can yield ordered structures in a wide range of morphologies, including spheres, cylinders, bicontinuous structures, lamellae, vesicles, and many other complex or hierarchical assemblies. These aggregates provide potential or practical applications in many fields. The present tutorial review introduces the primary principles of BCP self-assembly in bulk and in solution, by describing experiments, theories, accessible morphologies and morphological transitions, factors affecting the morphology, thermodynamics and kinetics, among others. As one specific example at a more advanced level, BCP vesicles (polymersomes) and their potential applications are discussed in some detail.

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Self-assembly of block copolymers

1: Magnetic Particles: Preparation, Properties and Applications: M. Ozaki. 2: Maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3): A Versatile Magnetic Colloidal Material C.J. Serna, M.P. Morales. 3: Dynamics of Adsorption and Oxidation of Organic Molecules on Illuminated Titanium Dioxide Particles Immersed in Water M.A. Blesa, R.J. Candal, S.A. Bilmes. 4: Colloidal Aggregation in Two-Dimensions A. Moncho-Jorda, F. Martinez-Lopez, M.A. Cabrerizo-Vilchez, R. Hidalgo Alvarez, M. Quesada-PMerez. 5: Kinetics of Particle and Protein Adsorption Z. Adamczyk.

Surface and Colloid Science

http://wwwcourses.sens.buffalo.edu/ce435/Riess03.pdf

Micellization of block copolymers

L'etude en fonction de la concentration du copolymere de la variation des proprietes spectroscopiques du pyrene provoquee par son partage entre les phases micellaires et aqueuses permet de determiner les concentrations critiques micellaires et les coefficients de partage

Poly(styrene-ethylene oxide) block copolymer micelle formation in water: a fluorescence probe study

Des copolymeres bi- et trisequences forment en solution aqueuse des micelles spheriques de 2 types dont les dimensions respectives sont constantes dans le domaine de concentration 2•10 −5 −2•10 −3 g/ml. La fraction en masse des particules les plus grosses decroit quand la concentration augmente. Les petites particules (20 nm de rayon hydrodynamique) sont des micelles regulieres avec un nombre d'association de quelques centaines; les grosses particules (65 nm) sont des amas constitues de dizaines de micelles

Light-scattering study of the association behavior of styrene-ethylene oxide block copolymers in aqueous solution

La formation des micelles de poly(oxyethylene) et de polystyrene dans l'eau est etudiee par fluorescence

Fluorescence probe techniques used to study micelle formation in water-soluble block copolymers

Summary: This article deals with recent progress including the authors' work concerning the application of block copolymers as polymeric surfactants in heterophase polymerizations. The synthesis methods for preparing block copolymers by emulsion and dispersion techniques are outlined, with emphasis on recently developed controlled free radical polymerizations in aqueous media. Specific characteristics of amphiphilic block copolymers are described, for example, micellization and emulsifying effects. A general overview of emulsion and dispersion polymerization in an aqueous and organic medium with ionic and nonionic block copolymers is presented for the preparation of electrosteric and sterically stabilized latex particles. Typical examples of microemulsion, miniemulsion, oil-in-oil emulsion, and micellar polymerizations are provided. Current and potential developments of so-called “hairy latexes”, inverse-, multiple-, and solid emulsions, as well as of nonaqueous polymeric dispersions are also discussed.

PS foam obtained by free radical polymerization of water-in-styrene, stabilized with a PS–PEO diblock copolymer.

Gérard Riess

Papers

Micellization of block copolymers

Poly(styrene-ethylene oxide) block copolymer micelle formation in water: a fluorescence probe study

Light-scattering study of the association behavior of styrene-ethylene oxide block copolymers in aqueous solution

Fluorescence probe techniques used to study micelle formation in water-soluble block copolymers

Block Copolymers in Emulsion and Dispersion Polymerization