Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Kinetically Controlled Block Polymer Micelles: Cavitation Induced Exchange And Templates For Nanomaterials, Kayla Alice Lantz

Theses and Dissertations

Kinetically trapped micelles are emerging as a novel platform for a wide range of applications including drug delivery, nanoreactors, and templates for porous nanomaterials. Kinetic control affords decoupling of micelle size from subsequent applications. However, micelle homogenization and size tuning are inherently difficult due to the high barrier toward micelle chain exchange processes. These challenges can be resolved with the use of sonication, which enables switchable exchange where cavitation leads to chain exchange and cessation returns micelles to kinetic entrapment. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements were used to quantify exchange during cavitation induced exchange (CIE). The extent of exchange was …