Driving amphiphilic block copolymers to self-assemble into asymmetric and equilibrium nanostructures remains a challenge. Here, we use the temperature-directed morphology transformation (TDMT) method to tailor the self-assembly of block copolymers into asymmetric nanoparticles with either a single (i.e., tadpole) or multi-arm geometry directly in water and at scale (>10 wt % of polymer). These nanostructures were close to or at their equilibrium morphology and not a transient kinetically trapped structure since they did not change with the addition of high amounts of plasticizer, could be freeze-dried and rehydrated without any structural rearrangement.

中文翻译：

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温度导向自组装：直接在水中从蝌蚪到多臂聚合物纳米结构

驱动两亲嵌段共聚物自组装成不对称和平衡纳米结构仍然是一个挑战。在这里，我们使用温度导向的形态转变 (TDMT) 方法将嵌段共聚物自组装成具有单臂（即蝌蚪）或多臂几何形状的不对称纳米颗粒，直接在水中和大规模（> 10 wt % 的聚合物）。这些纳米结构接近或处于其平衡形态，而不是瞬态动力学捕获结构，因为它们不会随着添加大量增塑剂而改变，可以在没有任何结构重排的情况下冷冻干燥和再水合。