Single chain core-shell nanostructure

A combination of static and dynamic laser light scattering has revealed that at temperatures higher than similar to 33 degrees C a linear poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) chain grafted with poly(ethylene oxide) (PNIPAM-g-PEO) in water can undergo a "coil-to-globule" transition to form a stable single chain core-shell nanostructure with tho collapsed PNIPAM chain backbone as the hydrophobic core: and the grafted PEO branches as the hydrophilic shell. It was also found that there still exists similar to 75% of water in the collapsed hydrophobic core which might be useful for biomedical applications because the core-shell nanostructure can be easily switched on and off by a simple temperature variation of 1-2 degrees C.