Title: Facile polymerization in a bicellar template to produce polymer nano-rings

Abstract

We report a well-defined discoidal bicelle composed of three lipids, specifically zwitterionic long-chain 1,2-dipalmitoyl phosphocholine (DPPC) and short-chain 1,2-dihexanoyl phosphocholine (DHPC) doped with anionic 1,2-dipalmitoyl phosphoglycerol (DPPG) provides a generalized template for the synthesis of hydrophobic polymer nano-rings. The lipid molar ratio of DPPC/DHPC/DPPG is 0.71/0.25/0.04. The detailed investigation and discussion were based on styrene but tested on three other vinyl monomers. The structure of nano-rings is identified through the detailed analysis of small angle X-ray/neutron scattering (SAXS and SANS) data and transmission electron micrographs (TEM), supported by the differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) data before and after polymerization. The investigation covers samples with a styrene-to-lipid ratio ranged varied from 1:50 to 1:10.The styrene monomers are initially located at both the discoidal planar (long-chain lipid rich) and rim (short-chain lipid rich) regions. During polymerization, they migrate to the more fluid rim region-section. The formation mechanism involves the interplay of hydrophobic interaction, mismatched miscibility of polystyrene between the ordered and disordered phases, and crystallinity of the long lipid acyl chains. This facile synthesis is proven applicable for several hydrophobic monomers. The well-defined nano-rings greatly enhance the interfacial area and have the potential to be the building blocks for functional materials, if monomersmore » are incorporated with desirable functions, for future applications. Crosslinked polymer nano-rings are produced in well-defined discoidal bicelles. The enhanced immiscibility in the planar region drives the hydrophobic polymers to the fluidic rim. The platform can be generalized for synthesis of other hydrophobic polymer nano-rings.« less

Authors:

Liu, Chung-Hao ^[1]; Cheu, Catherine  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Cheu, Catherine"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-4821-920X"

Barker, John G.  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Barker, John G."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-8183-8689"

Yang, Lin  ^[3];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Yang, Lin"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-1057-9194"

Nieh, Mu-Ping  ^[1]

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Nieh, Mu-Ping"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-4462-8716"

---

+ Show Author Affiliations

1. University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (United States)
2. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD (United States)
3. Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)

Publication Date:

Mon Oct 10 00:00:00 EDT 2022

Research Org.:

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) National Science Foundation (NSF); National Institutes of Health (NIH); National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

OSTI Identifier:

1961784

Report Number(s):

BNL-224128-2023-JAAM
Journal ID: ISSN 0021-9797

Grant/Contract Number:  

SC0012704; CBET 1930906; P30GM133893; KP1605010; S10 OD012331; DMR-2010792

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 630; Journal ID: ISSN 0021-9797

Publisher:

Elsevier

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; discoidal bicelles; emulsion polymerization; radical polymerization; SAXS/SANS; contrast variation