Formation of polymer vesicles by simultaneous chain growth and self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers

Abstract

Polymerization-induced formation of amphiphilic diblock copolymer vesicles is performed in water at high concentrations by a single-step nitroxide-mediated controlled free-radical emulsion polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine, initiated by a water-soluble poly(sodium acrylate) macroalkoxyamine at alkaline pH.