Nanoparticle Vesicles with Controllable Surface Topographies through Block Copolymer-Mediated Self-Assembly of Silica Nanospheres

Shujun Zhou, Ayae Sugawara-Narutaki, Sachio Tsuboike, Junzheng Wang, Atsushi Shimojima, Tatsuya Okubo*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Silica nanoparticle vesicles (NPVs) with encapsulating capability and surface permeability are highly attractive in nanocatalysis, biosensing, and drug delivery systems. Herein, we report the facile fabrication of silica NPVs composed of a monolayer of silica nanospheres (SNSs, ca. 15 nm in diameter) through the block copolymer-mediated self-assembly of SNSs. The silica NPVs gain different surface topographies, such as raspberry- and brain coral-like topographies, under controlled heat treatment conditions. The vesicular assembly of SNSs is successful with a series of poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) block copolymers, and the size of NPVs can be tuned by changing their molecular weight. The polymer is easily extracted from the NPVs with their colloidal dispersibility and structural integrity intact. The polymer-free silica NPVs further serve as a reaction vessel and host for functional materials such as tin oxide nanoparticles.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)13214-13220
Number of pages7
JournalLangmuir
Volume31
Issue number48
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015 Nov 11

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Materials Science(all)
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Spectroscopy
  • Electrochemistry

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