Self-assembly of rod-coil polyethylenimine-poly(ethylene glycol)-α-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes into hollow spheres and rod-like particles

Abstract

This paper describes the self-assembly of rod-coil inclusion complexes, polyethylenimine-poly(ethylene glycol)-α-cyclodextrin (PEI-PEG-α-CD). It is demonstrated that α-CDs should exclusively thread on the PEG block in PEI-PEG copolymers and the resulting complexes have both rigid block (PEG-α-CD) and coil block (protonated PEI). By varying the rigid block fraction, aggregates with hollow spheres or rod-like particles could be formed simply by self-assembly in aqueous solution.