A Facile Synthesis of Dynamic, Shape‐Changing Polymer Particles

Abstract

Abstract We herein report a new facile strategy to ellipsoidal block copolymer nanoparticles that exhibit a pH‐triggered anistropic swelling profile. In a first step, elongated particles with an axially stacked lamellae structure are selectively prepared by utilizing functional surfactants to control the phase separation of symmetric polystyrene‐ b ‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐ b ‐P2VP) in dispersed droplets. In a second step, the dynamic shape change is realized by cross‐linking the P2VP domains, thereby connecting glassy PS discs with pH‐sensitive hydrogel actuators.