...After self-assembly of my amphiphilic polymer, the TEM study confirmed the morphology to be polymersomes as expected with the size around 150 nm. My question is how can I determine the molecular weight of an individual nanoparticle? What is known is that is the Molecular weight of the polymer used for self assembly is 35KDA and I have used only 1 mg Polymer for self assembly. Thank you.
In the self-assembly process, a number polymeric chain participated and formed individual particles. I mean each particles generated by the combination of several polymeric chains. I think you can determine the average molecular weight of the individual polymeric chain by dispersing your polymer to a suitable solvent using viscometric method. In addition you have got the radius of individual particles. if you know the volume (V=4/3 pi r3) of individual particles then using the density of the polymer you can calculate the weight of individual particles.
Hi Jean Felix,
If you are working with self-assemblable polymeric materials (if you mean it the supramolecular way) , you have to keep in mind that you are handling dynamic systems and the size of your polymers will depend on several factors such as the concentration of the monomers, the solvent, etc.
NMR techniques such as DOSY titrations might help to estimate the average size of your polymeric structures in a given condition. Of course you have to make assumptions about the shape of the particles you form - rather spherical or linear - but maybe this can help.
Please take a look at this paper to have a better idea about the technique.
REF : S. Augé, P.-O. Schmit, C. A. Crutchfield, M. T. Islam, D. J. Harris, E. Durand, M. Clemancey, A.-A. Quoineaud, J.-M. Lancelin, Y. Prigent, F. Taulelle, M.-A. Delsuc, J. Phys. Chem. B 2009, 113, 1914-1918.
- Badges
- Science topic