Self-Assembly and Rheology of Block Copolymer with Polymer Additives or Particle Suspensions

Abstract

In this thesis work, a comprehensive study on the influence of pharmaceutical additives, namely non-ionic homopolymer (poly (ethylene oxide); PEO), ionic homopolymer (poly (acrylic acid); PAA), triblock copolymer (Pluronic? L64 or P105) and a particle suspension (corn starch; CS) on the micellization and gelation behavior of Pluronic? F127 in H2O is carried out. Differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic light scattering, dye solubilization technique and nuclear magnetic resonance are used to study the micellization behavior while the rheology, gelation and structural analysis of the systems are characterized by rheometry, tube inversion method, cryogenic TEM, small angle X-ray scattering and polarized light microscopy. Previously unobserved behavior such as the advancement of the micelle formation points of F127 in the presence of homopolymers (PEO and PAA), and two gel phases behavior of F127+L64 mixture are observed, and a greater understanding of the interactions between amphiphilic copolymers and polymeric additives in aqueous medium is achieved. The findings prove to be beneficial in the optimization of copolymer formulations engineered for the use in pharmaceutical or biomedical applications and other industries as well.