POS4-1576
Self-Assembly of Discrete PEG-b-PLA Block Copolymers into Cubosome Nanostructures
Topic
S4. Colloids, Interfaces, and Molecular Assemblies for Functional Soft Materials
When and Where
Oct 1, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Jinkee HONG
Ki Su KIM
Presenter(s)
Se Hwa Park (Seoul National University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Amphiphilic block copolymers form diverse self-assembled nanostructures depending on the balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments. Controlling these morphologies is important for functional nanomaterials, including drug delivery carriers, nanoreactors, and soft materials. The packing parameter is a key factor governing self-assembly morphology. However, because conventional PEG-b-PLA block copolymers contain a distribution of chain lengths, it remains challenging to examine how block length affects self-assembly behavior.
In this study, we synthesized discrete PEG-b-PLA block copolymers and investigated their self-assembly as a function of PLA block length. PLA segments were prepared by iterative exponential growth, IEG, through repeated deprotection and coupling reactions, enabling well-defined PLA segments with controlled lengths. These segments were conjugated with PEG blocks to afford amphiphilic PEG-b-PLA block copolymers. By varying the PLA length, the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance and packing parameter were tuned.
The resulting block copolymers formed various nanostructures through solution self-assembly, with morphology changes depending on PLA length and assembly conditions. The polymers and assembled structures were characterized by GPC, MALDI-TOF MS, TEM, and SEM. Notably, cubosome structures were observed under specific conditions, suggesting that precise molecular design using discrete block copolymers can enable complex nanostructures with internal order. This study provides insight into the relationship between molecular structure and self-assembled morphology in PEG-b-PLA block copolymers.
In this study, we synthesized discrete PEG-b-PLA block copolymers and investigated their self-assembly as a function of PLA block length. PLA segments were prepared by iterative exponential growth, IEG, through repeated deprotection and coupling reactions, enabling well-defined PLA segments with controlled lengths. These segments were conjugated with PEG blocks to afford amphiphilic PEG-b-PLA block copolymers. By varying the PLA length, the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance and packing parameter were tuned.
The resulting block copolymers formed various nanostructures through solution self-assembly, with morphology changes depending on PLA length and assembly conditions. The polymers and assembled structures were characterized by GPC, MALDI-TOF MS, TEM, and SEM. Notably, cubosome structures were observed under specific conditions, suggesting that precise molecular design using discrete block copolymers can enable complex nanostructures with internal order. This study provides insight into the relationship between molecular structure and self-assembled morphology in PEG-b-PLA block copolymers.
