Issue 12, 2024

Self-assembly of amphiphilic asymmetric comb-like copolymers with responsive rigid side chains

Abstract

Amphiphilic asymmetric comb-like copolymers (AACCs) exhibit distinct self-assembly behaviours due to their unique architecture. However, the synthetic difficulties of well-defined AACCs have prohibited a systematic understanding of the architecture–morphology relationship. In this work, we conducted dissipative particle dynamics simulations to investigate the self-assembly behaviours of AACCs with responsive rigid side chains in selective solvents. The effects of side chain length, number of branches, and spacers on the morphology of aggregates were investigated by mapping out morphology diagrams. Besides, the numbers and surface areas of aggregates clearly depicted the morphological transitions during the self-assembly process. Moreover, the rod-to-coil conformation transitions were simulated to explore the stimuli-responsive behaviour of the AACCs with responsive rigid side chains by adjusting the bond angle parameter of the rigid chains. The results indicated that without the support of the rigid chains, the assembly structure collapsed, leading to the tube-to-channelized micelles and one-compartment-to-multicompartment vesicle morphology transformations. The simulation results are consistent with earlier experimental results, which can provide theoretical guidance for assembly toward desired nanostructures.

Graphical abstract: Self-assembly of amphiphilic asymmetric comb-like copolymers with responsive rigid side chains

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
18 Jan 2024
Accepted
27 Feb 2024
First published
27 Feb 2024

Soft Matter, 2024,20, 2823-2830

Self-assembly of amphiphilic asymmetric comb-like copolymers with responsive rigid side chains

Z. Li, W. Feng, X. Zhang, B. Xu, L. Wang and S. Lin, Soft Matter, 2024, 20, 2823 DOI: 10.1039/D4SM00076E

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