2013/05/21 by Jérôme G. J. L. Lebouille, Lebouille, Jérôme G. J. L., Remco Tuinier +9
Chemistry · Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Polymer Synthesis and Characterization #FOS: Physical sciences #Polymer Surface Interaction Studies #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft) #Surfactants and Colloidal Systems #cond-mat.soft
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1305.4798
accepted for publication in Soft Matter
arxiv created 2013/05/21 · openalex publication_date 2013/05/21 · arxiv updated 2013/05/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/27 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We have used the Scheutjens-Fleer self-consistent field (SF-SCF) method to predict the self-assembly of triblock copolymers with a solvophilic middle block and sufficiently long solvophobic outer blocks. We model copolymers consisting of polyethylene oxide (PEO) as solvophilic block and poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) or poly(\ko-caprolactone) (PCL) as solvophobic block. These copolymers form structurally quenched spherical micelles provided the solvophilic block is long enough. Predictions are calibrated on experimental data for micelles composed of PCL-PEO-PCL and PLGA-PEO-PLGA triblock copolymers prepared via the nanoprecipitation method. We establish effective interaction parameters that enable us to predict various micelle properties such as the hydrodynamic size, the aggregation number and the loading capacity of the micelles for hydrophobic species that are consistent with experimental finding.