Multilayer onion‐like vesicles self‐assembled from amphiphilic hyperbranched multiarm copolymers via simulation. Issue 5 (29th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hao, Tongfan; Tan, Haina; Li, Shanlong; Wang, Yuling; Zhou, Zhiping; Yu, Chunyang; Zhou, Yongfeng; Yan, Deyue
• Is Part Of: Journal of polymer science. Volume 58:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 704
• Page End: 715
• Publication Date: 2020-01-29
• Subjects: hyperbranched polymers -- DPD simulation -- onion‐like vesicles -- self‐assembly; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymerization; Polymers; Periodicals; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1002/pol.20190163
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2642-4150

Abstract

Abstract: Multilayer onion‐like vesicles are valuable in cell mimics and biomedicine fields. However, as an excellent self‐assembly precursor, the formation of multilayer onion‐like vesicles by the self‐assembly of hyperbranched multiarm copolymers (HMCs) were not reported due to the complex self‐assembly dynamics. In this article, the self‐assembly behavior of multilayer onion‐like vesicles from HMCs was systematically investigated using dissipative particle dynamics simulation. The formation conditions for different kinds of vesicles were disclosed through the construction of the morphological phase diagram. Moreover, the formation mechanisms of the onion‐like vesicles with different layers were revealed. We observed that it is the fusion mechanism in low concentrations and the molecular rearrangement mechanism in high concentrations. For low concentration, the law between the number of the membrane layers and the morphology of the aggregates in the fusion process was disclosed. Meanwhile, the membrane of the onion‐like vesicles self‐assembled from HMCs is monolayer structure and the thickness of each layer is decreased in sequence from inside to outside. The current observations have important guiding significance for its application in drug delivery systems. Abstract : The self‐assembly behavior of multilayer onion‐like vesicles from hyperbranched multiarm copolymers was investigated using dissipative particle dynamics simulations. The formation conditions for different kinds of vesicles were disclosed by the morphological phase diagram. It is the fusion mechanism in low concentrations and the molecular rearrangement mechanism in high concentrations. The thickness of the monolayer membrane for each layer is decreased in sequence from inside to outside. These findings have significance in guiding its application in drug delivery systems.