Dilution-Induced Spheres-to-Vesicles Morphological Transition in Micelles from Block Copolymer/Surfactant Complexes

Abstract
Metastable spherical micelles have been obtained by mixing in chloroform poly(styrene)-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) diblock copolymers with perfluorinated surfactants bearing a carboxylic acid head. Dilution of these initial micelles triggers a morphological reorganization resulting in the formation of more stable vesicles. This transition can be advantageously used to encapsulate molecules of interest.