Kinetically\nControlled Preparation of Worm-like Micelles\nwith Tunable Diameter/Length and Structural Stability

Anisotropic nanoparticles such as\nworm-like micelles have aroused\nmuch attention due to their promising applications from templates\nto drug delivery. The fabrication of worm-like micelles with tunable\nstructural stability and control over their diameter and length is\nof great importance but still challenging. Herein, we report a kinetically\ncontrolled ring-opening metathesis polymerization-induced self-assembly\n(ROMPISA) for the robust preparation of kinetically trapped worm-like\nmicelles with tunable diameter/length at enlarged experimental windows\nby the rational manipulation of kinetic factors, including solvent\nproperty, temperature, and π–π stacking effects.\nThe resultant worm structures were thermodynamically metastable and\ncapable of excellent structural stability at room temperature due\nto the kinetic trapping effect. At elevated temperatures, these thermodynamically\nmetastable worms could undergo morphology evolution into vesicular\nstructures in a controlled manner. Moreover, the structural stability\nof worms could also be significantly enhanced by in situ cross-linking.\nOverall, this kinetically controlled ROMPISA opens a new avenue for\nPISA chemistry that is expected to prepare “smart” polymer\nmaterials by manipulating kinetic factors.