Multilayer mesoporous vesosomes of block copolymer
Multilayer mesoporous vesosomes uniquely combine hollow multilayer shells with ordered mesopores, providing a basis for multilevel gating, controlled release, and programmed reaction cascades, yet robust construction remains challenging. Herein, we report a molecular engineering strategy based on 3D-confined self-assembly to produce multilayer vesosomes with nearly hexagonally ordered shell perforations. Selective association of pentadecylphenol (PDP) and 1,5-dibromopentane (DBP) with the poly(4-vinylpyridine) block precisely tunes block-copolymer volume fraction to stabilize an unconventional perforated lamellar morphology, while reversible hydrogen bonding enables region-selective pore generation. Experiments and simulations reveal cooperative roles of confinement and hydrogen bonding in directing morphological evolution, with DBP further refining assembly through electrostatic and cross-linking interactions. The resulting multilayer mesoporous vesosomes feature a pyridine-rich corona and show iodine capture (1.26 g g−1), good recyclability, and faster uptake than nonporous multilayer analogues. This work offers a versatile route to complex hollow architectures and clarifies key determinants governing their formation. The construction of multilayer mesoporous vesosomes that combine hollow multilayer shells with ordered mesopores remains a significant challenge. Here the authors report a molecular engineering strategy based on 3D-confined self-assembly to produce multilayer vesosomes with nearly hexagonally ordered shell perforations.
Authors
- Senbin Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5599-6819)
- Sidan Tian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9543-9830)
- Eunji J. Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7494-1776)
- Hyeong Jun Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1742-1349)
- Jun Ho Hwang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0225-0970)
- Jintao Zhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8230-3923)
- Xihuang Zheng
- Renhua Deng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7217-5772)
- Mian Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8311-8394)
- Huangyan Shen
- Weihua Li
Institutions
- Sogang University (KR)
- Fudan University (CN)
- Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (KR)
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2026-09-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-77259-9
- Primary Topic
- Block Copolymer Self-Assembly
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Research Foundation
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology
- National Research Foundation of Korea
- Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea