Thin membranes with dense periodic arrays of nanoscopic voids were fabricated using the principles of supramolecular assembly and self-organization in polymers. Such nanoporous membranes can be used as templates for synthesis and patterning of various organic and inorganic materials. In this thesis 4-vinylpyridine fragments of polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-PVP) were associated with the molecules of two different low molar mass additives, 2-(4'-hydroxybenzeneazo)benzoic acid (HABA) and 3-n-pentadecyl phenol (PDP), via hydrogen bonds. The choice of an additive and a solvent is a key factor which influences the morphologies of the PS-PVP+HABA associates (supramolecular assemblies) in thin films. The reversible association via hydrogen bonds allows the amphiphilic molecules of PDP to phase segregate on the free air interface. Unlike, the molecules of HABA remain associated within cylindrical and lamellar domains formed by the PVP block. A solvent used for film deposition influences the orientation of PVP+HABA domains with respect to the confining interfaces. The films deposited from 1,4-dioxane – a good solvent for PS and a bad one for PVP+HABA – demonstrated the perpendicular orientation of PVP+HABA domains. Meanwhile, the preparation of films from a chloroform solution – a good solvent for both PS and PVP+HABA – led to the parallel alignment. The orientation was independent on the film thickness (within the studied range of 20–100 nm) and insensitive to the chemical nature of a substrate. The orientation of the domains was shown to switch upon exposure to vapors of the above mentioned solvents from the parallel to perpendicular orientation and vice versa. Moreover, the swelling of the films in solvent vapors resulted in the significant improvement of the domain ordering. Extraction of HABA with selective solvent transformed of PVP+HABA domains into channels with reactive PVP chains on the walls. The resulted membranes with the perpendicular oriented channels (the diameter about 8 nm, the inter-channel distance 24 nm) were used as a template for the creation of ordered arrays of nanodots from nickel, chromium and gold.

In the project, our purpose is the synthesis of segmented block copolymers using novel selectively reacting bi-functional coupling agents which have recently been developed by Jakisch at al. Both couplers have one oxazoline group that reacts with carboxylic groups and one oxazinone group that reacts with hydroxyl or amino groups. It was intended to synthesize segmented block copolymers by combination of amino or hydroxyl terminated pre-polymers and carboxylic terminated chain extenders using the above mentioned coupling agents. Several prepolymers were selected such as hydroxyl terminated liquid polybutadiene (PBD-OH), hydroxyl terminated liquid natural rubber (LNR) and amino terminated liquid polybutadiene-b-acrylonitrile (PBAN) and poly(propylene glycol)-bis(2-aminopropylether) (PPO). They were selected as soft polymer segments in the segmented block copolymers aimed for. Additionally, various di-carboxylic acids were chosen as chain extenders. The resulting block copolymers are phase separated materials with a crystalline hard phase. This was demonstrated by two glass transition temperatures corresponding to the soft and hard segments and various melting regions of the hard chain extenders. For these new materials, the controlled phase separation morphology in nano-size was evidenced by TEM. A hard domain size of about 2-5 nm surrounded by a soft matrix was observed on the micro-photographs. This is consistent with the low hard segment content and the segment alternation (A-B)n in multi-block copolymers. With respect to the mechanical properties, a relationship between tensile strength and the average molar mass of the block copolymers was found out. The samples behave as rubber-like thermoplastic materials. The tensile properties depend on the degree of polymerization and the polymer distribution. The reinforcement ability of the hard domains in a physical network was achieved as expected. As a consequence, the obtained final products have mechanical properties like a typical elastomeric material.

No description available.

A molecular dynamics coarse-grained block copolymer (BCP) model was developed and used to studied directed self-assembly (DSA), especially in regards to applications for semiconductor manufacturing. Most of the thesis is spent investigating the effect that guiding layer properties and block copolymer properties have on line roughness and defect density in a BCP-DSA process. These two effects are perhaps the most critical in making BCP-DSA a cost efficient industrial process. It is found that guiding patterns have little effect on line roughness and in fact that the BCP heals the majority of roughness in the underlying pattern. BCP properties have a larger effect on line roughness. Segregation strength (as measured by χN, where χ is the Flory- Huggins interaction parameter and N is the degree of polymerization) resulted in a larger than expected increase in line roughness when χN was low. Polydispersity resulted in a moderate increase in line roughness. In regards to equilibrium defect density, free energy calculations showed that χ was the primary determining factor, not χN as many expected. Equilibrium defect density was found to decrease exponentially with increasing χ. Defect density is also found to scale exponentially with polydispersity. Concerning defect heal rate, which can increase the real defect rate of a process if said rate is too low, it is found that increasing χN linearly increased the barrier to defect healing, which means that the defect heal rate decreases exponentially. However, for thin films this is only true for χN > ~ 50. Below χN ~ 50, the barrier is approximately constant. These results give excellent guidance to the type of materials and processes necessary to optimize a BCP-DSA process. A simulation technique designed to more efficiently sample over energy barriers called protracted noise dynamics for polymer systems was developed and studied. It was found that a decrease in simulation time of up to 4 orders of magnitude was achieved. The effect of box size on allowable pitches for a lamellar forming BCP was derived and demonstrated. It was found that more elongated boxes yielded more possible pitches and more accurate results. A short study on the effect of multiblock copolymers on the location of the order-disorder transition was also carried out and it was found that multiblock copolymers had small effect on the ODT. The distribution of chain conformations was also calculated.

Neste presente trabalho foi realizado um estudo sobre copolímeros em bloco e seus nanocompósitos com diferentes estruturas morfológicas. Os polímeros estudados foram copolímeros de poliestireno-b-poli(etileno-co-butileno)-b-poliestireno (SEBS), sendo dois desses copolímeros com fração em massa de 30% de blocos de poliestireno (PS), e um deles modificado com anidrido maleico na fase de poli(etileno-co-butileno) (PEB). Os outros três copolímeros têm 13% de blocos de PS. A nanopartícula utilizada foi a argila montmorilonita organofílica Cloisite 20A. Os nanocompósitos foram preparados por dois métodos: i) mistura no estado fundido (extrusão); ii) solução. As microestruturas dos materiais resultantes foram caracterizadas pelas técnicas de espalhamento de raios X a baixo ângulo (SAXS) e difração de raios-X (DRX). As propriedades reológicas foram avaliadas em dois tipo de fluxo (cisalhamento e elongacional). Para avaliar as propriedades reológicas em fluxo de cisalhamento foram realizados ensaios de cisalhamento oscilatório em pequenas amplitudes (SAOS), cisalhamento oscilatório em grandes amplitudes (LAOS) e varredura de tempo (TS). Para avaliar as propriedades reológicas em fluxo elongacional foram realizados ensaios com geometria apropriada (SER), acoplada ao reômetro rotacional. Estes ensaios foram conduzindo em duas direções: paralela (longitudinal) e perpendicular (transversal) à direção do fluxo de extrusão. As análises de caracterização estrutural (DRX e SAXS) indicaram uma estrutura intercalada para os nanocompósitos SEBS/20A e esfoliada para as matrizes modificadas com anidrido maleico. A caracterização reológica dos copolímeros com 30% de blocos de PS em fluxo de cisalhamento mostrou que as morfologias dos nanocompósitos são estáveis com o tempo de cisalhamento, e permitiu confirmar as estruturas dos nanocompósitos. Para os copolímeros com 13% de blocos de PS foi possível identificar as temperaturas de transição ordem-ordem e ordem-desordem. Os resultados dos ensaios reológicos indicaram que ocorre alinhamento dos cilindros na direção dos fluxos de cisalhamento e elongacional. Também foram avaliadas as propriedades mecânicas, e os resultados mostraram que o comportamento mecânico é altamente influenciado pela estrutura morfológica e a incorporação de argila. / In this work block copolymers and their nanocomposites were studied. The polymers studied were copolymers of polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-polystyrene (SEBS), with two samples containing 30 wt% of PS blocks. The other three copolymers contained 13% of PS blocks. Two block copolymers are modified with maleic anhydride. The reinforcement used was the montmorillonite organoclay Cloisite 20A. The nanocomposites were prepared by two methods: i) melt blending (extrusion), with which a cylindrical hexagonal structure (anisotropic and isotropic) was obtained; ii) casting, with which a lamellar structure was obtained. The microstructures were characterized by the techniques of small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The rheological properties were evaluated in two different flows (shear and elongational). To evaluate the rheological properties in shear flow the samples were tested under small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS), large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) and time sweep (TS). To evaluate the rheological properties in elongational flow, tests were carried out using an appropriate geometry (SER). The latter tests were conducted on samples aligned in two different directions: parallel (longitudinal) and perpendicular (transverse) to the flow direction of extrusion. The structural characterization analysis (XRD and SAXS) indicated an intercalated nanocomposite structure for SEBS/20A, and an exfoliated structure for the copolymers modified with maleic anhydride. The rheological characterization of the samples in shear flow showed that the morphologies of the nanocomposites are stable with time of shearing, and it confirmed the morphologies of the nanocomposites (30% PS block). For copolymers with 13 % of PS blocks it was possible to identify the order-order and order-disorder transition temperatures. The rheological tests showed that it is possible to align the morphologies in shear and elongational flows. The mechanical properties were also evaluated; the results have shown that the mechanical behavior was strongly influenced by the morphological structure and clay incorporation.

Neste trabalho nanocompósitos de copolímero em bloco foram estudados. Os copolímeros em bloco utilizados foram o SEBS (poliestireno-b-poli(etileno-co-butileno)-b-poliestireno) e SEBSMA (que contém cerca de 2% de anidrido maléico no bloco de PEB) e as nanocargas argilas organofílicas: Cloisite 20A (modificada com 95 meg/100g de argila do sal di(alquil de sebo hidrogenado) dimetil amônio) e Cloisite 30B (modificada com 90 meq/100g de argila do sal (alquil de sebo) dihidroxietil metil amônio). Os nanocompósitos foram obtidos pelo método de mistura no estado fundido utilizando uma extrusora dupla rosca. Foram utilizados dois tipos de matrizes, sendo uma de filamento e a outra de fita. As microestruturas e propriedades dos materiais resultantes foram caracterizadas pelas técnicas de Espalhamento de Raios X a Baixo Ângulo (SAXS), Difração de Raios X (XRD), Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão (TEM). Foram realizados ensaios de Cisalhamento Oscilatório em Pequenas Amplitudes (SAOS) e Varredura de tempo (Time Sweep). Também, foram realizadas séries de ensaios reológicos para estudar um possível alinhamento das estruturas durante o fluxo. Em particular as amostras foram submetidas a Cisalhamento Oscilatório em Grandes Amplitudes (LAOS) e a estabilidade estrutural do material após o alinhamento. As amostras foram também testadas em fluxos extensionais utilizando-se uma geometria apropriada para gerar fluxos elongacionais. Esses últimos ensaios foram realizados utilizando dois tipos de amostras: amostras obtidas com a matriz de fita e cortadas paralelamente à direção do fluxo (longitudinal) ou perpendicularmente a direção do fluxo (transversal). As análises de caracterização estrutural (XRD e TEM) indicaram uma estrutura intercalada para o nanocompósito SEBS/20A, esfoliada para o SEBS-MA/20A e parcialmente esfoliada para o nanocompósito SEBS-MA/30B. Os resultados mostraram que as estruturas estão bem ordenadas com empacotamento hexagonal cilíndrico para ambos os copolímeros e nanocompósitos. Os resultados de caracterização estrutural mostraram que o processo de extrusão alinhou os cilindros (PS) na direção do fluxo de extrusão e as partículas de argila também sofreram uma orientação preferencial em menor escala. A caracterização reológica das amostras em cisalhamento mostrou que as morfologias dos nanocompósitos são estáveis com o tempo de cisalhamento, e permitiu confirmar as morfologias dos nanocompósitos. Os ensaios reológicos mostraram que é possível orientar as morfologias em cisalhamento e extensão. / In this work nanocomposites block copolymer were studied. The block copolymers used were SEBS (polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-polystyrene) and SEBS-MA (containing about 2% of maleic anhydride in the block EB), the nanocharges were organoclays namely: Cloisite 20A (modified with 95 meg/100g clay salt di (hydrogenated tallow alkyl) dimethyl ammonium) and Cloisite 30B (modified with 90 meq/100 g clay salt (tallow alkyl) methyl ammonium dihidroxietil). The nanocomposites were obtained by melt mixing using a twin-screw extruder. Two types of matrices, filament and ribbon were used. The microstructures and properties of the resulting materials were characterized by Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Small Amplitude Oscillatory Shear (SAOS) and Time Sweep were carried out. Sequences of rheological tests were conducted to study a possible alignment of the structures during flow. In particular, the samples were submitted to Large Amplitude Oscillatory Shear (LAOS) and recovery. The samples were also tested in extensional flows using an appropriate geometry. These latest tests were conducted using two types of samples: tape samples cut along the flow direction (longitudinal) or cut perpendicular to the flow direction (transverse). The analysis of structural characterization (XRD and TEM) indicated an intercaled structure of the nanocomposite SEBS/20A, exfoliated for SEBS-MA/20A and partially exfoliated nanocomposite for SEBS-MA/30B. The results showed that the structures are well ordered with hexagonal cylindrical packing for both copolymers and nanocomposites. The results of structural characterization showed that the extrusion process aligned cylinders (PS) in the flow direction of extrusion and the clay particles also suffered a preferred orientation on a smaller scale. The rheological characterization of the samples in shear showed that the morphologies of the nanocomposites are stable with time of shearing, and it confirmed the morphologies of the nanocomposites. The rheological tests showed that it is possible to guide the morphologies in shear and extension.

In the present thesis, the self-assembly of multi thermoresponsive block copolymers in dilute aqueous solution was investigated by a combination of turbidimetry, dynamic light scattering, TEM measurements, NMR as well as fluorescence spectroscopy. The successive conversion of such block copolymers from a hydrophilic into a hydrophobic state includes intermediate amphiphilic states with a variable hydrophilic-to-lipophilic balance. As a result, the self-organization is not following an all-or-none principle but a multistep aggregation in dilute solution was observed. The synthesis of double thermoresponsive diblock copolymers as well as triple thermoresponsive triblock copolymers was realized using twofold-TMS labeled RAFT agents which provide direct information about the average molar mass as well as residual end group functionality from a routine proton NMR spectrum. First a set of double thermosensitive diblock copolymers poly(N-n-propylacrylamide)-b-poly(N-ethylacrylamide) was synthesized which differed only in the relative size of the two blocks. Depending on the relative block lengths, different aggregation pathways were found. Furthermore, the complementary TMS-labeled end groups served as NMR-probes for the self-assembly of these diblock copolymers in dilute solution. Reversible, temperature sensitive peak splitting of the TMS-signals in NMR spectroscopy was indicative for the formation of mixed star-/flower-like micelles in some cases. Moreover, triple thermoresponsive triblock copolymers from poly(N-n-propylacrylamide) (A), poly(methoxydiethylene glycol acrylate) (B) and poly(N-ethylacrylamide) (C) were obtained from sequential RAFT polymerization in all possible block sequences (ABC, BAC, ACB). Their self-organization behavior in dilute aqueous solution was found to be rather complex and dependent on the positioning of the different blocks within the terpolymers. Especially the localization of the low-LCST block (A) had a large influence on the aggregation behavior. Above the first cloud point, aggregates were only observed when the A block was located at one terminus. Once placed in the middle, unimolecular micelles were observed which showed aggregation only above the second phase transition temperature of the B block. Carrier abilities of such triple thermosensitive triblock copolymers tested in fluorescence spectroscopy, using the solvatochromic dye Nile Red, suggested that the hydrophobic probe is less efficiently incorporated by the polymer with the BAC sequence as compared to ABC or ACB polymers above the first phase transition temperature. In addition, due to the problem of increasing loss of end group functionality during the subsequent polymerization steps, a novel concept for the one-step synthesis of multi thermoresponsive block copolymers was developed. This allowed to synthesize double thermoresponsive di- and triblock copolymers in a single polymerization step. The copolymerization of different N-substituted maleimides with a thermosensitive styrene derivative (4-vinylbenzyl methoxytetrakis(oxyethylene) ether) led to alternating copolymers with variable LCST. Consequently, an excess of this styrene-based monomer allowed the synthesis of double thermoresponsive tapered block copolymers in a single polymerization step. / Die Selbstorganisation von mehrfach thermisch schaltbaren Blockcopolymeren in verdünnter wässriger Lösung wurde mittels Trübungsphotometer, dynamischer Lichtstreuung, TEM Messungen, NMR sowie Fluoreszenzspektroskopie untersucht. Die schrittweise Überführung eines hydrophilen in ein hydrophobes Blockcopolymer beinhaltet ein oder mehr amphiphile Zwischenstufen mit einstellbarem hydrophilen zu lipophilen Anteil (HLB). Dies führt dazu, dass die Selbstorganisation solcher Polymere in Lösung nicht nur einem Alles-oder-nichts-Prinzip folgt sondern ein mehrstufiges Aggregationsverhalten beobachtet wird. Die Synthese von doppelt thermisch schaltbaren Diblockcopolymeren und dreifach thermisch schaltbaren Triblockcopolymeren wurde durch sequenzielle RAFT Polymerisation realisiert. Dazu wurden zweifach TMS-markierte RAFT Agentien verwendet, welche die Bestimmung der molaren Masse sowie der verbliebenen Endgruppenfunktionalität direkt aus einem Protonen NMR Spektrum erlauben. Mit diesen RAFT Agentien wurde zunächst eine Serie von doppelt thermisch schaltbaren Diblockcopolymeren aus Poly(N-n-propylacrylamid)-b-Poly(N-ethylacrylamid), welche sich lediglich durch die relativen Blocklängen unterscheiden, hergestellt. In Abhängigkeit von der relativen Blocklänge wurde ein unterschiedliches Aggregationsverhalten der Diblockcopolymere in verdünnter wässriger Lösung beobachtet. Des Weiteren wirken die komplementär TMS-markierten Endgruppen als NMR-Sonden während der schrittweisen Aggregation dieser Polymere. Reversible, temperaturabhängige Peakaufspaltung der TMS-Signale in der NMR Spektroskopie spricht für eine Aggregation in gemischte stern-/blumenartige Mizellen, in denen ein Teil der hydrophoben Endgruppen in den hyrophoben Kern zurückfaltet. Obendrein wurden dreifach thermisch schaltbare Triblockcopolymere aus Poly(N-n-propylacrylamid) (A), Poly(methoxydiethylen glycol acrylat) (B) und Poly(N-ethylacrylamid) (C) in allen möglichen Blocksequenzen (ABC, BAC, ACB) durch schrittweisen Aufbau mittels RAFT Polymerisation erhalten. Das Aggregationsverhalten dieser Polymere in verdünnter wässriger Lösung war relativ komplex und hing stark von der Position der einzelnen Blöcke in den Triblockcopolymeren ab. Besonders die Position des Blocks mit der niedrigsten LCST (A) war ausschlaggebend für die resultierenden Aggregate. So wurde oberhalb der ersten Phasenübergangstemperatur nur Aggregation der Triblockcopolymere beobachtet, wenn der A Block an einem der beiden Enden der Polymere lokalisiert war. Wurde der A Block hingegen in der Mitte der Polymere positioniert, entstanden unimere Mizellen zwischen der ersten und zweiten Phasenübergangstemperatur, welche erst aggregierten, nachdem der zweite Block (B) seinen Phasenübergang durchlief. Die Transportereigenschaften dieser Triblockcopolymere wurden mittels Fluoreszenzspektroskopie getestet. Dazu wurde die Einlagerung eines hydrophoben, solvatochromen Fluoreszenzfarbstoffes, Nilrot, in Abhängigkeit der Temperatur untersucht. Im Gegensatz zu den Polymeren mit der Blocksequenz ABC oder ACB, zeigten die Polymere mit der Sequenz BAC eine verminderte Aufnahmefähigkeit des hydrophoben Farbstoffes oberhalb des ersten Phasenübergangs, was auf die fehlende Aggregation und die damit verbundenen relativ kleinen hydrophoben Domänen der unimolekularen Mizellen zwischen der ersten und zweiten Phasenübergangstemperatur zurückzuführen ist. Aufgrund des zunehmenden Verlustes von funktionellen Endgruppen während der RAFT Synthese von Triblockcopolymeren wurde ein neuartiges Konzept zur Einschrittsynthese von mehrfach schaltbaren Blockcopolymeren entwickelt. Dieses erlaubt die Synthese von mehrfach schaltbaren Diblock- und Triblockcopoylmeren in einem einzelnen Reaktionsschritt. Die Copolymeriation von verschiedenen N-substituierten Maleimiden mit einem thermisch schaltbaren Styrolderivat (4-Vinylbenzylmethoxytetrakis(oxyethylene) ether) ergab alternierende Copolymere mit variabler LCST. Die Verwendung eines Überschusses dieses styrolbasierten Monomers erlaubt ferner die Synthese von Gradientenblockcopolymeren in einem einzelnen Polymerisationsschritt.

The main goal of this research is to construct hierarchical microstructures from polymer nanocomposites. Specifically, the research focused on constructing tensegrity-inspired microstructure where the nanoparticles are the compression members and the polymer matrix is tensile web. In order to achieve the tensegrity-inpired microstruture, the research was conducted with the following objectives. 1. Synthesis of Hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles of controlled shapes using block copolymer templates. 2. Investigation of the effects of particle loadings and shapes on isotropic nanocomposite properties. 3. Construction of HAp building blocks into the tensegrity-inspired microstructures First, in order to use the nanoparticles for this structure, needle-shaped HAp nanoparticles were synthesized using block copolymer templates. The results indicated that significant amount of polymer remained on particle surface. Since these particles were coated with polymer blocks, the decorated polymer blocks were considered as the interphase material which would be used to prestress the HAp nanoparticles, and the particles would be acted as the building blocks for constructing tensegrity-inspired microstructure. For nanocomposites, polymer coating on HAp nanoparticles promoted particle dispersion. The effect of particle shapes on thermomechanical properties did not show significant differences between the two particle systems due to their low aspect ratios and chemical similarity. However, the polymer crystallinity and crystallization showed different trend as a function of particle loadings in two particle systems, and the behavior was unified through a common particle spacing of approximately 120 nm. In order to investigate the effect of particle arrangement in the polymer matrix, needle-shaped HAp nanoparticles synthesized with two different block copolymers were mixed with different morphology of polymer matrices and manipulated particle arrangement using the drawing process. Nanocomposites prepared with different matrix morphologies showed the similar dispersion characteristics and reinforcement behavior. The experimental results showed the drawing process influenced the particle arrangement in the polymer matrix, and the particle arrangement and reinforcement behavior were influenced by polymer matrix morphology. The thermomechanical properties of both matrix systems enhanced through the drawing process in the glassy region, but the effect of degree of particle orientation was difficult to distinguish due to low aspect ratios of HAp particles which was not enough to impact on overall microstructure.

Conjugated polymers hold tremendous potential as low-cost, solution processable materials for electronic applications such organic light-emitting diodes and photovoltaics. While the concerted efforts of many research groups have improved the performance of organic electronic devices to near-relevant levels for commercial exploitation over the last decade, the overall performance of organic light-emitting diode and organic photovoltaic devices still lags behind that of their traditional, inorganic counterparts. Realizing the full potential of organic electronics will require a comprehensive, molecular-level understanding of conjugated polymer photophysics. Studying pure, well-defined, and reproducible conjugated polymer materials should enable these efforts; unfortunately, conjugated polymers are typically synthesized by metal-catalyzed step-growth polycondensation reactions that do not allow for rigorous control over polymer molecular weight or molecular weight distribution (i.e., dispersity). Chain-growth syntheses of conjugated polymers would not only allow for precise control over the aforementioned polymer metrics such as molecular weight and dispersity, but could also potentially create new applications by enabling the preparation of more advanced macromolecular structures such as block copolymers and surface grafted polymers. Our efforts toward realizing these goals as well as toward exploiting chain-growth methodologies to better understand fundamental conjugated polymer photophysics and self-assembly will be presented. / text

The goal of this project was to develop a non-toxic amphiphilic diblock copolymer nanoparticulate drug delivery system that will solubilize paclitaxel (PTX) and retain the drug in plasma. Methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (MePEG-b-PCL) diblock copolymers loaded with PTX were characterized and their physicochemical properties were correlated with their performance as nanoparticulate drug delivery systems. A series of MePEG-b-PCL was synthesized with PCL blocks ranging from 2-104 repeat units and MePEG blocks of 17, 44 or 114 repeat units. All copolymers were water soluble and formed micelles except MePEG₁₁₄-b-PCL₁₀₄, which was water insoluble and formed nanospheres. Investigation of the effects of block length on the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles was used to select appropriate copolymers for development as PTX nanoparticles. The critical micelle concentration, pyrene partition coefficient and diameter of nanoparticles were found to be dependent on the PCL block length. Copolymers based on a MePEG molecular weight of 750 g/mol were found to have temperature dependent phase behavior. Relationships between the concentration of micellized drug and the compatibility between the drug and core-forming block, as determined by the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter, and PCL block length were developed. Increases in the compatibility between PCL and the drug, as well as longer PCL block lengths resulted in increased drug solubilization. The physicochemical properties and drug delivery performance characteristics of MePEG₁₁₄-b-PCL₁₉ micelles and MePEG₁₁₄-b-PCL₁₀₄ nanospheres were compared. Nanospheres were larger, had a more viscous core, solubilized more PTX and released it slower, compared to micelles. No difference was seen in the hemocompatibility of the nanoparticles as assessed by plasma coagulation time and erythrocyte hemolysis. Micellar PTX had an in vitro plasma distribution similar to free drug. The majority of micellar PTX associated with the lipoprotein deficient plasma fraction (LPDP). In contrast, nanospheres were capable of retaining more of the encapsulated drug with significantly less PTX partitioning into the LPDP fraction. In conclusion, although both micelles and nanospheres were capable of solubilizing PTX and were hemocompatible, PTX nanospheres may offer the advantage of prolonged blood circulation, based on the in vitro plasma distribution data, which showed that nanospheres retained PTX more effectively.