Ruiz-Pérez et al. report the nanoscale detection of metal-labelled copolymers in patchy polymersomes.
The synthesis of polymersome-forming block copolymers using two different synthetic routes based on Atom Transfer Radical Polymerisation (ATRP) and Reversible Addition Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT) polymerisation is reported. Functionalisation with 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) allowed the block copolymer chains to be labelled with electron-dense metal ions (e.g. indium). The resulting metal-conjugated copolymers can be visualised by transmission electron microscopy with single chain resolution, hence enabling the study of polymer/polymer immiscibility and phase separation on the nano-scale.
Nanoscale detection of metal-labeled copolymers in patchy polymersomes by Lorena Ruiz-Pérez, Jeppe Madsen, Efrosyni Themistou, Jens Gaitzsch, Léa Messager, Steven P. Armes and Giuseppe Battaglia, Polym. Chem., 2015, 6, 2065-2068.
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