Organic/inorganic hybrid vesicles based on a reactive block copolymer

Presented in this communication is a novel hybrid vesicle with a cross-linked polyorganosiloxane wall based on a new reactive block copolymer, poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate) (PEO-b-PTMSPMA), which was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. The vesicles were prepared first by self-assembly of the block copolymer in a selective solvent, and then the PTMSPMA block was subjected to hydrolysis and polycondensation reaction to fix vesicle wall in the presence of triethylamine as a catalyst. Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, NMR, and light scattering have been used to characterize the vesicles. Copyright © 2003 American Chemical Society.