Issue 38, 2017

Characterizing single chain nanoparticles (SCNPs): a critical survey

Abstract

We provide the results of a critical literature survey on the reported sizes of single chain polymer nanoparticles (SCNPs), an emerging class of functional nanomaterials with sub-30 nm diameters. Comparing different size evaluation techniques (DLS, 2D DOSY NMR, viscometry as well as microscopic techniques) by plotting the SCNPs’ estimated diameters, D, versus their measured (apparent) number average molecular weight, Mn, we demonstrate the vast data scatter that besets their analysis. We show that while relative reductions in measured diameter certainly indicate chain collapse, accurately describing the absolute size of SCNPs in solution remains a challenging task. Critically, conformation-size relationships emerge depending on the method used for size determination. We submit that the vast majority of reported sizes are only indicative of the relative size reduction during chain collapse and that absolute size determination approaches currently in use need to be further refined.

Graphical abstract: Characterizing single chain nanoparticles (SCNPs): a critical survey

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
30 Jul 2017
Accepted
25 Aug 2017
First published
28 Aug 2017

Polym. Chem., 2017,8, 5845-5851

Characterizing single chain nanoparticles (SCNPs): a critical survey

E. Blasco, B. T. Tuten, H. Frisch, A. Lederer and C. Barner-Kowollik, Polym. Chem., 2017, 8, 5845 DOI: 10.1039/C7PY01278K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements