One-pot synthesis of linear triblock terpolymers and their aqueous self-assembly

Abstract

Compartmentalized micelles are prepared through the self-assembly of linear triblock terpolymers containing hydrophilic (H), lipophilic (L), and fluorophilic (F) domains. The triblock copolymers were synthesized via living ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene-based monomers. Our terpolymer design offers a facile approach for the synthesis of the target materials with fast polymerization kinetics, complete block incorporation and control over block sequence. Various triblock terpolymers are prepared with variations in block sequence and block ratio and self-assembled in aqueous media. Interaction parameter (χ) values between each block are determined using a Flory–Huggins based computational model. “Core–shell–corona”, “disk-like”, “raspberry-like” and “worm-like” morphologies are observed through cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and dissipative particle dynamics simulations.