Emulsion‐Assisted Polymerization‐Induced Hierarchical Self‐Assembly of Giant Sea Urchin‐like Aggregates on a Large Scale. (29th May 2018) - Xu, Qingsong
Abstract: Hierarchical solution self‐assembly has become an important biomimetic method to prepare highly complex and multifunctional supramolecular structures. However, despite great progress, it is still highly challenging to prepare hierarchical self‐assemblies on a large scale because the self‐assembly processes are generally performed at high dilution. Now, an emulsion‐assisted polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (EAPISA) method with the advantages of in situ self‐assembly, scalable preparation, and facile functionalization was used to prepare hierarchical multiscale sea urchin‐like aggregates (SUAs). The obtained SUAs from amphiphilic alternating copolymers have a micrometer‐sized rattan ball‐like capsule (RBC) acting as the hollow core body and radiating nanotubes tens of micrometers in length as the hollow spines. They can capture model proteins effectively at an ultra‐low concentration (ca. 10 nm ) after functionalization with amino groups through click copolymerization.