Click chemistry tailored benzimidazole functionalized triazole block-co-polymer for emergence of exotic chimaeric nano-crystalsomes

Abstract

The fabrication of crystalline polymers is synthetically challenging and intellectually stimulating. Amphiphilic block copolymers self-assemble in water to form various vesicle-like architectures depicting curved interfaces, which are shape-translational symmetry incommensurate crystals and ubiquitous. Interestingly, the mechanical properties of the polymeric system improve by forming a crystalline structure. Herein, we for the first time, report the synthesis of a new click monomer (CM), (1-(2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl) ethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-yl) methyl methacrylate via azide-alkyne cycloaddition ‘Click reaction’. Furthermore, this monomer was co-polymerized with dimethyl aminopropyl methacrylamide (DMAPMA) via free radical aqueous co-polymerization to generate chimaeric crystalsomes (DPCM) through self-organization of polymeric subunits that structurally resemble classical polymersomes. In an aqueous system, amphiphilic block co-polymers organize within the enclosed membrane to form single crystalline chimaeric substructures. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) have been employed to characterize and understand the nanocrystalline nature of DPCM. The single crystalline nature of these DPCM has been witnessed via X-ray diffraction (XRD) study, consistent with the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern. In addition, the technologically advanced DPCM with nanometer dimensions possesses inherent bioactive properties from click monomeric units, exhibiting remarkable efficacy in conjunction with accelerated wound healing competence in rat model studies.