Synthesis of core-crosslinked nanoparticles with controlled cylindrical shape and narrowly-dispersed size via core-shell brush block copolymer templates

The preparation of core-crosslinked nanocylinders with well-defined shape and narrowly-dispersed size by using a core-shell brush block copolymer as a unimolecular template was demonstrated. Limiting the crosslinking reactions to proceed only within the core of the templates provided nanoscale regiochemical control, via the pre-established spatial arrangement of the reactive alkenyl functional groups, and avoided potential intermolecular reaction complications. This strategy may be further extended for the synthesis of a broad variety of crosslinked nanostructures with diverse shapes and sizes by using brush copolymer templates having different compositional, structural and topological features. These crosslinked polymeric nanoparticles with well-controlled shapes and sizes may be further functionalized and sequentially utilized to construct nanoscale objects for a variety of interesting applications.