Print Email Facebook Twitter Fuel-driven macromolecular coacervation in complex coacervate core micelles Title Fuel-driven macromolecular coacervation in complex coacervate core micelles Author Lewis, R.W. (TU Delft ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter) Klemm, B. (TU Delft ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter) Macchione, M. (TU Delft ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter) Eelkema, R. (TU Delft ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter) Date 2022 Abstract Fuel-driven macromolecular coacervation is an entry into the transient formation of highly charged, responsive material phases. In this work, we used a chemical reaction network (CRN) to drive the coacervation of macromolecular species readily produced using radical polymerisation methods. The CRN enables transient quaternization of tertiary amine substrates, driven by the conversion of electron deficient allyl acetates and thiol or amine nucleophiles. By incorporating tertiary amine functionality into block copolymers, we demonstrate chemical triggered complex coacervate core micelle (C3M) assembly and disassembly. In contrast to most dynamic coacervate systems, this CRN operates at constant physiological pH without the need for complex biomolecules. By varying the allyl acetate fuel, deactivating nucleophile and reagent ratios, we achieved both sequential signal-induced C3M (dis)assembly, as well as transient non-equilibrium (dis)assembly. We expect that timed and signal-responsive control over coacervate phase formation at physiological pH will find application in nucleic acid delivery, nano reactors and protocell research. To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:33e4d1ee-78ce-4ac1-a85d-8d37443e22f3 DOI https://doi.org/10.1039/d2sc00805j ISSN 2041-6520 Source Chemical Science, 13, 4533-4544 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2022 R.W. Lewis, B. Klemm, M. Macchione, R. Eelkema Files PDF d2sc00805j.pdf 1.45 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:33e4d1ee-78ce-4ac1-a85d-8d37443e22f3/datastream/OBJ/view