Eur. Phys. J. E 7, 339-344 (2002)
DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2001-10095-5
Vesicle-to-micelle transition induced by grafted diblock copolymers
A. Schalchli-Plaszczynski1, 2 and L. Auvray1, 21 Laboratoire Léon Brillouin (CEA-CNRS), CEN Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
2 Université d'Evry Val d'Essonne, 91025 Evry Cedex, France
aude.plaszczynski@physique.univ-evry.fr
(Received 12 June 2001 and Received in final form 18 March 2002)
Abstract
We study by small-angle neutron scattering the
vesicle-to-micelle transition induced by anchoring diblock copolymers on the
surfactant membranes. Vesicles are made using the ternary system SDS (sodium
dodecyl sulfate)/octanol/PS-POE (polystyrene-polyoxyethylene), chosen as a
model of more complex biological systems. The anchored polymer chains
destabilize the membranes and lead to the formation of mixed
polymer-surfactant micelles. We show that there is no influence of the
polymer mass on the membranes destabilization. We compare this experimental
result with recent theoretical predictions concerning the polymer-grafted
membranes. We have a good agreement with predictions involving membrane
curvature effects, and also with predictions focusing on more local
deformations of membranes created by the grafted chains.
87.16.Dg - Membranes, bilayers, and vesicles.
83.80.Uv - Block copolymers.
61.12.Ex - Neutron scattering techniques (including small-angle scattering).
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2002