Self-assembly in casting solutions of block copolymer membranes

Marques, Debora Salomon; Vainio, Ulla; Moreno, Nicolas; Calo, Victor M.; Bezahd, Ali Reza; Pitera, Jed W.; Peinemann, Klaus‐Viktor; Nunes, Suzana Pereira

doi:10.1039/c3sm27475f

Cited by 107 publications

(149 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…In BCPs, the differences in the solubility of each block and solvent will determine which block is preferentially exposed to the solvent. Supplementary Table 1 2 gives a good indication of how strong the interaction between the blocks and the solvent is, with larger values indicating poorer interactions, similarly to recently reported pore formation in PS-b-P4VP BCP membranes 19 . The solubility parameter of a solvent mixture as well as the aggregate morphology can be tuned by changing the solvent composition.…”

Section: Preparation and Characterization Of Nanoporous Particlessupporting

confidence: 50%

Biomimetic block copolymer particles with gated nanopores and ultrahigh protein sorption capacity

et al. 2014

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The design of micro-or nanoparticles that can encapsulate sensitive molecules such as drugs, hormones, proteins or peptides is of increasing importance for applications in biotechnology and medicine. Examples are micelles, liposomes and vesicles. The tiny and, in most cases, hollow spheres are used as vehicles for transport and controlled administration of pharmaceutical drugs or nutrients. Here we report a simple strategy to fabricate microspheres by block copolymer self-assembly. The microsphere particles have monodispersed nanopores that can act as pH-responsive gates. They contain a highly porous internal structure, which is analogous to the Schwarz P structure. The internal porosity of the particles contributes to their high sorption capacity and sustained release behaviour. We successfully separated similarly sized proteins using these particles. The ease of particle fabrication by macrophase separation and self-assembly, and the robustness of the particles makes them ideal for sorption, separation, transport and sustained delivery of pharmaceutical substances.

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Section: Preparation and Characterization Of Nanoporous Particlessupporting

confidence: 50%

Biomimetic block copolymer particles with gated nanopores and ultrahigh protein sorption capacity

et al. 2014

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“…Combination of self-assembly and non-solvent induced phase separation mechanisms in the formation of isoporous flat-sheet membranes (casting solution in the semi-diluted concentration regime) and porous particles (less concentrated starting solution). Examples adapted from previous reports 63,78,99,100 .…”

Section: Non-solvent Induced (Macro) Phase Separation (Nips): Interplmentioning

confidence: 99%

Block Copolymer Membranes for Aqueous Solution Applications

2016

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Block copolymers are known for their intricate morphology. We review the state of the art of block copolymer membranes and discuss perspectives in this field. The main focus is on pore morphology tuning with a short introduction on non-porous membranes. The two main strategies for pore formation in block copolymer membranes are (i) film casting and selective block sacrifice and (ii) self-assembly and non-solvent induced phase separation (SNIPS). Different fundamental aspects involved in the manufacture of block copolymer membranes are considered, including factors affecting the equilibrium morphology in solid films, self-assembly of copolymer in solutions and macrophase separation by solvent-non-solvent exchange. Different mechanisms are proposed for different depths of the SNIPS membrane. Block copolymer membranes can be prepared with much narrower pore size distribution than homopolymer membranes. Open questions and indications of what we consider the next development steps are finally discussed. They include the synthesis and application of new copolymers and specific functionalization, adding characteristics to respond to stimuli and chemical environment, polymerization-induced phase separation, and the manufacture of organic-inorganic hybrids.3

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“…[26] We previously used DPD simulation to explain the formation of plain PS-b-P4VP membranes. [22] While PS1807-b-P4VP609 formed micelles in the solvent mixture investigated (DMF/dioxane/acetone), the segregation was not strong in the case of pure PS144-b-PAA22 due to the relatively low AA block size. Segregation is favored when the thermodynamic interactions multiplied by blocks sizes are high (Supporting Information Figure S2, Tables S3-S5).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…[14,15] The ordered hexagonal top layer of the plain PS-b-P4VP can be seen in Figure 3b, imaged by an atomic force microscope (AFM). We previously investigated the mechanism of pore formation in membranes obtained from single PS-b-P4VP copolymers by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) 19 , cryo microscopy [22,23] and in-situ grazing-incidence SAXS [23] and demonstrated how self-assembly in solution is relevant to the process and how it is affected by the copolymer concentration and solvent composition. With the introduction of PS-b-PAA to the PS-b-P4VP solution, the micellar order is disturbed and a much denser surface is obtained, as shown in Figure 3c (AFM), as well as 1b (field emission scanning electron microscopy, FESEM).…”

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Self‐Assembled Asymmetric Block Copolymer Membranes: Bridging the Gap from Ultra‐ to Nanofiltration

et al. 2015

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The self‐assembly of block copolymers is an emerging strategy to produce isoporous ultrafiltration membranes. However, thus far, it has not been possible to bridge the gap from ultra‐ to nanofiltration and decrease the pore size of self‐assembled block copolymer membranes to below 5 nm without post‐treatment. It is now reported that the self‐assembly of blends of two chemically interacting copolymers can lead to highly porous membranes with pore diameters as small as 1.5 nm. The membrane containing an ultraporous, 60 nm thin separation layer can fully reject solutes with molecular weights of 600 g mol−1 in aqueous solutions with a water flux that is more than one order of magnitude higher than the permeance of commercial nanofiltration membranes. Simulations of the membrane formation process by dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) were used to explain the dramatic observed pore size reduction combined with an increase in water flux.

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Self-assembly in casting solutions of block copolymer membranes

Cited by 107 publications

References 39 publications

Biomimetic block copolymer particles with gated nanopores and ultrahigh protein sorption capacity

Biomimetic block copolymer particles with gated nanopores and ultrahigh protein sorption capacity

Block Copolymer Membranes for Aqueous Solution Applications

Self‐Assembled Asymmetric Block Copolymer Membranes: Bridging the Gap from Ultra‐ to Nanofiltration

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