Abstract

Early stages of polymeric nanoparticle formation are monitored by in situ synchrotron small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) experiments. A new strategy enables the preparation of stable polymeric nanoparticles from homopolymers (not copolymers) of one type only and without any assembly‐triggering additives. Poly(ethylacrylic acid) (PEA) in an aqueous solution is tuned to the pH, where it exhibits thermosensitivity and the formation of nanoparticles is temperature‐induced. The kinetics of this formation are clearly monitored by SAXS. Experiments indicate the slightly elongated, not exactly spherical shape of the resulting nanoparticles, which is also confirmed by cryo‐transmission electron microscopy (cryo‐TEM). Quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) shows that the PEA nanoparticles are relatively loose with a lot of solvent inside, in agreement with results from previous light scattering work. image

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