Physics – Condensed Matter – Soft Condensed Matter
Scientific paper
2001-10-04
Physics
Condensed Matter
Soft Condensed Matter
16 pages, 5 figures, and 1 table
Scientific paper
10.1021/ma020669l
Vesicles prepared in water from a series of diblock copolymers and termed "polymersomes" are physically characterized. With increasing molecular weight $\bar{M}_n$, the hydrophobic core thickness $d$ for the self-assembled bilayers of polyethyleneoxide - polybutadiene (PEO-PBD) increases up to 20 $nm$ - considerably greater than any previously studied lipid system. The mechanical responses of these membranes, specifically, the area elastic modulus $K_a$ and maximal areal strain $\alpha_c$ are measured by micromanipulation. As expected for interface-dominated elasticity, $K_a$ ($\simeq$ 100 $pN/nm$) is found to be independent of $\bar{M}_n$. Related mean-field ideas also predict a limiting value for $\alpha_c$ which is universal and about 10-fold above that typical of lipids. Experiments indeed show $\alpha_c$ generally increases with $\bar{M}_n$, coming close to the theoretical limit before stress relaxation is opposed by what might be chain entanglements at the highest $\bar{M}_n$. The results highlight the interfacial limits of self-assemblies at the nano-scale.
Bates Frank S.
Bermudez Harry
Brannan Aaron K.
Discher Dennis E.
Hammer Daniel A.
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