Light scattering and luminescence studies on self-aggregation behavior of amphiphilic copolymer micelles

J Phys Chem B. 2008 Jan 24;112(3):749-55. doi: 10.1021/jp076351i. Epub 2007 Dec 22.

Abstract

The self-aggregation behavior of three amphiphilic graft copolymers, oligo(9,9-dihexyl)fluorence-graft-poly(ethylene oxide) (OHF-g-PEO), with different architectures was studied by dynamic and static light scattering (DLS and SLS) in combination with fluorescence spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The formation of self-assembled polymeric micelles was confirmed by SLS and TEM. DLS and SLS analyses showed that the architecture of graft copolymers has a dramatic effect on critical aggregation concentration (CAC), micelle size distribution, apparent aggregation number (Nagg app), and apparent molecular weight of polymer aggregates (Mw,agg app). An architecture-dependent excimer emission, resulting from the pi-pi stacking of the oligofluorene backbones, was also observed from the photoluminescence spectra of the micelle aqueous solutions, which indicated a strong intermolecular interaction among the polymeric molecules. The excimer emission was further investigated by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy.

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Fluorenes / chemistry*
  • Luminescence*
  • Micelles*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Scattering, Radiation*
  • Solutions / chemistry
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Surface Properties
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Fluorenes
  • Micelles
  • Solutions
  • Water
  • Polyethylene Glycols