'All-supramolecular' Nanocapsules from Low-Molecular Weight Ureas Through Interfacial Addition Reaction in Miniemulsion
Résumé
This contribution presents a new strategy for preparing nanocapsules with a shell made of a supramolecular polymer which repeating units are held together by reversible interactions rather than covalent bonds. These nanocapsules were prepared in classical miniemulsion through interfacial addition reaction of a diisocyanate (IPDI) and a monoamine (iBA), forming low-molecular weight bis-ureas moieties which are strong self-complementary interacting molecules through hydrogen-bonding. The nanocapsules present a diameter around 100 nm, and MALDI-TOF MS and H-1 NMR analyses confirm the expected molecular characteristics for the shell. This strategy opens the scope of a new type of nanomaterials exhibiting stimuli-responsiveness due to the reversible interaction linking the repeating units.