Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Polymersomes and Polyelectrolytes on Planar Surfaces and Microsized Colloidal Particles

M. COUSTET; J. IRIGOYEN; T. ALONSO GARCÍA; R.A. MURRAY; G. ROMERO; M.S. CORTIZO; W. KNOLL; O. AZZARONI; S.E. MOYA

JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE

ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014 vol. 43| p. 132 - 140

0021-9797

Hybrid polyelectrolyte multilayer systems were fabricated on top of planar surfaces and colloidal particles via layer by layer (LbL) assembly of polystyrene sulphonate (PSS) and polybenzyl methacrylate-block-poly(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (PBzMA-b-PDMAEMA) polymersomes. Polymersomes were prepared by self assembly of PBzMA-b-PDMAEMA copolymer, synthesised by group transfer polymerisation. Polymersomes display a diameter of 270 nm and a shell thickness of 11 nm. Assembly on planar surfaces was followed by means of the Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Detailed information on the assembly mechanism and surface topology of the polymersome/polyelectrolyte films was thereby obtained. The assembly of polymersomes and PSS on top of silica particles of 500 nm in diameter was confirmed by ζ-potential measurements. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that polymersome/PSS coated silica particles increase in total diameter up to 3?5 μm. This hints toward the formation of densely packed polymersome layers. In addition, CLSM showed that polymersome/PSS films exhibit a high loading capacity that could potentially be used for encapsulation and delivery of diverse chemical species. These results provide an insight into the formation of multilayered films with compartmentalised hydrophilic/hydrophobic domains and may lead to the successful application of polymersomes in surface-engineered colloidal systems.