Innovative approach for stabilizing poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) micelles by forming nano-sized networks in the micelle

Abstract

Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (F-68) micelles were stabilized by UV-induced free-radical polymerisation of pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (PETA). The polymerisation resulted in the formation of an interpenetrating network of poly(PETA) and polyether chains, which was restricted only to specific nanodomains (nano-networks) within the micelles as shown by the TEM analysis. Depending on the experimental conditions stabilized polymeric micelles (SPMs) with spherical shape and sizes in the 32–50 nm range were obtained. SPMs stability in aqueous media at concentrations significantly lower than the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of free F-68 was demonstrated using dynamic light scattering and the diphenylhexatriene (DPH) solubilization technique. Furthermore, the stabilized F-68 micelles maintained their size and structure even when subjected to 20 kHz ultrasonic irradiation.