Fabrication of vesicle-like dual-responsive click capsules by direct covalent layer-by-layer assembly

Abstract

We report a click chemistry approach for the consecutive layer-by-layer assembly of thermo- and pH-sensitive clickable copolymers on silica particles and the subsequent formation of vesicle-like dual-responsive click capsules. These click capsules exhibit both thermo- and pH-responsive behaviors by elevating the solution temperature and incubating in acidic or basic solutions respectively. We also demonstrate the in situ preparation of silver nanoparticles within the multilayer of the click capsules. These stimuli-responsive behaviors were examined by using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). This approach provides potential applications in preparing well-defined vesicle-like capsules with covalent stabilization and flexibility in introducing a range of new materials including different functional polymers.