Abstract
Block copolymer micelles enable the formation of widely tunable self-assembled structures in liquid phases, with applications ranging from drug delivery to personal care products to nanoreactors. In order to understand fundamental aspects of micelle assembly and dynamics, the structural properties and solvent uptake of biocompatible poly(ethylene oxide-b-e-caprolactone) (PEO–PCL) diblock copolymers in deuterated water (D2O)/tetrahydrofuran (THF-d8) mixtures were investigated with a combination of small-angle neutron scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance, and transmission electron microscopy. PEO–PCL block copolymers, of varying molecular weight yet constant block ratio, formed spherical micelles through a wide range of solvent compositions. Varying the solvent composition from 10 to 60 vol % THF-d8 in D2O/THF-d8 mixtures was a convenient means of varying the core–corona interfacial tension in the micelle system. An increase in THF-d8 content in the bulk solvent increased the solvent uptake within the mic...
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