Aggregation number distributions and mesoglobules in dilute solutions of diblock and triblock copolymers

Abstract

We investigate the aggregation number and size distributions for inter-molecular clusters of amphiphilic diblock and triblock copolymers in poor solvent at very low concentrations. Diblocks and triblocks with hydrophilic ends are shown to possess narrow distributions corresponding to formation of monodispersed mesoglobules. Diblocks with hydrophobic ends are found to produce inter-cluster multimers due to bridging by the hydrophilic middle blocks, resulting in polydisperse distributions. Implications of these observations for preparation of monodispersed nanoparticles and, potentially, understanding of the quaternary structure of proteins are discussed.