Here we report novel shear-sensitive polymeric large compound micelles (LCMs) formed by self-assembly of glutathione end-capped poly(4-vinylpyridine) (GP4VP) in water containing 4 vol% methanol. The amphiphile p...Here we report novel shear-sensitive polymeric large compound micelles (LCMs) formed by self-assembly of glutathione end-capped poly(4-vinylpyridine) (GP4VP) in water containing 4 vol% methanol. The amphiphile prefers to form the kinetieally stabilized LCMs due to the small length ratio of the hydrophilic part to the hydrophobic part; the encapsulation of the hydrophilic part within LCMs causes only a small enthalpy loss from a thermody- namic view. Sheared by vortex flows generated by vigorous stir, the LCMs evolve to thick wall vesicles, thin wall vesicles, broken vesicles and "pearl-necklace" structures consecutively. The high flexibility of the LCMs and the internal tension caused by the encapsulation of the hydrophilic part are responsible for the high shear sensitivity of the LCMs.展开更多
文摘Here we report novel shear-sensitive polymeric large compound micelles (LCMs) formed by self-assembly of glutathione end-capped poly(4-vinylpyridine) (GP4VP) in water containing 4 vol% methanol. The amphiphile prefers to form the kinetieally stabilized LCMs due to the small length ratio of the hydrophilic part to the hydrophobic part; the encapsulation of the hydrophilic part within LCMs causes only a small enthalpy loss from a thermody- namic view. Sheared by vortex flows generated by vigorous stir, the LCMs evolve to thick wall vesicles, thin wall vesicles, broken vesicles and "pearl-necklace" structures consecutively. The high flexibility of the LCMs and the internal tension caused by the encapsulation of the hydrophilic part are responsible for the high shear sensitivity of the LCMs.