Janus micelles

A novel strategy to synthesize amphiphilic surface-compartmentalized nanoparticles based on linear ABC triblock copolymers is presented. These so-called Janus micelles consist of a cross-linked core and a corona with a "northern" and a "southern" hemisphere. Selectively cross-linking spherical domains of the polybutadiene middle block in a well-ordered bulk morphology of a polystyrene-block-polybutadiene-block-poly( methyl methacrylate) triblock copolymer (SBM) leads to the conservation of the compartmentalization of the outer blocks after dissolution of the material. Multi-angle laser light scattering gel permeation chromatography, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, small-angle neutron scattering, and static and dynamic light scattering, as well as scanning force microscopy, indicate the existence of an equilibrium between molecularly dissolved Janus micelles (unimers) and aggregates (multimers), so-called supermicelles.