Feasibility of rational shape design of single-polymer micelle using spontaneous surface curvature

TL;DR

This study explores how the shape of single-polymer micelles can be controlled by adjusting copolymer block lengths, revealing complex, nonlinear responses that inform rational design strategies.

Contribution

It demonstrates a rational design approach to predict and control micelle shape by modifying multiblock copolymer composition.

Findings

Shape response is smooth but nonlinear.

Shape changes can be nonmonotonic.

Design requires sophisticated techniques.

Abstract

Polymeric micelles are used in a variety of applications, with the micelle's shape often playing an important role. Consequently, a scheme to design micelles of arbitrary shape is desirable. In this paper, we consider micelles formed from a single, linear, multiblock copolymer, and we study how easily the micelle's shape can be controlled by altering the copolymer block lengths. Using a rational design scheme, we identify a few aspects of the multiblock composition that are expected to have a well-behaved, predictable effect on micelle shape. Starting from a reference micelle composition, itself already exhibiting a nonstandard shape having a moderately sized dimple, we alter these aspects of the multiblock composition and observe the regularity of the micelle shape response. The response of the shape is found to be somewhat smooth, but significantly nonlinear and sometimes nonmonotonic, suggesting that sophisticated techniques may be required to aid in micelle design.