Ionic Liquids: Versatile Media for Preparation of Vesicles from Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly

This work reports the development of a new polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) system through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)-mediated dispersion polymerization in ionic liquids. Three representative monomers (styrene, n-butyl methacrylate, and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) were polymerized through chain extension from a trithiocarbonate-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) macro-RAFT agent, in a model ionic liquid [bmim][PF₆]. The block copolymers thus prepared could spontaneously form aggregates with vesicular morphologies. Moreover, by regulating the formulation, nanoaggregates with multiple morphologies were generated in ionic liquid via PISA.