Thermosensitive pluronic micelles stabilized by shell cross-linking with gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles were employed to prepare shell cross-linked Pluronic micelles that exhibit a reversibly thermosensitive swelling/shrinking behavior. Two terminal hydroxyl groups of Pluronic F127 were thiol-functionalized to form self-assembling Pluronic micelles in aqueous solution with exposed -SH groups in an outer shell layer. The thiol groups present in the outer shell were cross-linked by gold nanoparticles synthesized through NaBH4 reduction of gold precursor anions. The resultant shell cross-linked gold-Pluronic micelles exhibited a temperature-dependent volume transition: their hydrodynamic diameter was changed from 157.1 +/- 15.6 nm at 15 degrees C to 53.4 +/- 5.5 nm at 37 degrees C as determined by dynamic light scattering. The critical micelle temperature measured by a pyrene solubilization technique suggested that the reversible swelling/shrinking behavior of the micelles was caused by hydrophobic interactions of cross-linked or grafted Pluronic copolymer chains in the micelle structure with increasing temperature. Transmission electron microscopy directly revealed that the shell cross-linked micelles were indeed produced by gold nanoparticles covalently clustered on the surface. These novel self-assembled organic/inorganic hybrid micelles would hold great potential for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.     

Structure of nonionic surfactant micelles in the ionic liquid ethylammonium nitrate

The structure of micelles formed by nonionic polyoxyethylene alkyl ether nonionic surfactants, C n E m , in the room-temperature ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate (EAN), has been determined by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) as a function of alkyl and ethoxy chain length, concentration, and temperature. Micelles are found to form for all alkyl chains from dodecyl through to octadecyl. Dodecyl-chained surfactants have high critical micelle concentrations, around 1 wt%, and form weakly structured micelles. Surfactants with longer alkyl chains readily form micelles in EAN. The observed micelle structure changes systematically with alkyl and ethoxy chain length, in parallel with observations in aqueous solutions. Decreasing ethoxy chain length at constant alkyl chain length leads to a sphere to rod transition. These micelles also grow into rods with increasing temperature as their cloud point is approached in EAN.     

Non-ionic amphiphilic block copolymers by RAFT-polymerization and their self-organization

Water-soluble, amphiphilic diblock copolymers were synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. They consist of poly(butyl acrylate) as hydrophobic block with a low glass transition temperature and three different nonionic water-soluble blocks, namely, the classical hydrophilic block poly(dimethylacrylamide), the strongly hydrophilic poly(acryloyloxyethyl methylsulfoxide), and the thermally sensitive poly(N-acryloylpyrrolidine). Aqueous micellar solutions of the block copolymers were prepared and characterized by static and dynamic light scattering analysis (DLS and SLS). No critical micelle concentration could be detected. The micellization was thermodynamically favored, although kinetically slow, exhibiting a marked dependence on the preparation conditions. The polymers formed micelles with a hydrodynamic diameter from 20 to 100 nm, which were stable upon dilution. The micellar size was correlated with the composition of the block copolymers and their overall molar mass. The micelles formed with the two most hydrophilic blocks were particularly stable upon temperature cycles, whereas the thermally sensitive poly(N-acryloylpyrrolidine) block showed a temperature-induced precipitation. According to combined SLS and DLS analysis, the micelles exhibited an elongated shape such as rods or worms. It should be noted that the block copolymers with the most hydrophilic poly(sulfoxide) block formed inverse micelles in certain organic solvents.     

A mechanistic study of the formation of mesoporous structures from in situ AC conductivity measurements

The purpose of this work is to study the kinetics of self-assembly in the formation mechanism of anionic templated mesoporous solids (AMS-n) during the first few seconds of the synthesis as well as to demonstrate the use of alternating ion current (AIC) conductivity measurements to follow the self-assembly in complex hybrid systems. The formation of different AMS-n caged-type mesostructures through the delayed addition of the silica source is demonstrated and explained in terms of the interaction between the co-structure-directing agent (CSDA) and the oppositely charged surfactant headgroup regions. Our findings, supported by transmission electron microscopy, 29Si magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements, and powder X-ray diffraction suggest that the interaction of the CSDA with the surfactant headgroup occurs within seconds after its addition to the synthesis gel leading to interaction between the polymerizing CSDAs and the oppositely charged micelle and to an increase in the micelle-CSDA aggregate size. Both DLS and AIC measurements agree that this process occurs within the first 1000 s after addition of the CSDA to the synthesis gel at room temperature. In addition to the mechanistic study it was found that the intermediate materials are comprised of a three-layer entity. Time-dependent 29Si MAS NMR studies reveal that an organo-silica layer forms around the micelles prior to a condensed outer inorganic shell of silica.     

调控介孔硅分子筛的孔壁结构以提高吸附亚硝胺的效率

 针对高空速下捕获痕量毒物分子的环境净化要求, 尝试调控介孔材料孔壁结构以提高其吸附小分子环境污染物的效率. 通过调节合成体系的 pH 值、加入无机盐以及控制表面活性剂浓度等方法, 改变硅物种与模板剂胶束的组装速度或无机-有机液晶相的存在形态, 研制含有孔壁缺陷位的介孔分子筛新材料. 通过 X 射线衍射和低温氮气吸附研究了样品的结构特性, 并采用高分辨透射电镜和固体核磁技术证实了介孔材料孔壁缺陷位的形成. 以挥发性吡咯烷亚硝胺为靶标分子, 考察了所得材料的吸附性能. 结果表明, 大量缺陷空位的存在成倍地提高了介孔分子筛吸附挥发性亚硝胺的效率, 为设计研制环保新材料提供了新思路.     

酸性条件下纯硅六方介孔分子筛的合成(Ⅱ)合成温度、时间的影响及其与碱性合成的比较

本文以十六烷基三甲基溴化铵为模板剂,正硅酸乙酯为硅源,考察了反应温度和时间对酸性条件下合成纯硅六方介孔分子筛的影响,并与碱性合成路径相比较。结果表明,由于无机物种与表面活性剂之间的相互作用不同,六方介孔分子筛的酸性合成经历了与碱性合成完全不同的机理。对要到性合成来说,由于六方结构的形成取决于稳定的模板胶束的存在,并不特别依赖于硅物种的缩合,故高温、长反应时间等有利于缩合的因素对提高产品质量几乎没有促进作用,较高的反应温度甚至起反作用。因此,酸性合成宜采用室温条件。     

Temperature Dependence in the Synthesis of SBA-16-Type Mesoporous Silica with Pluronic F68 Block Copolymer

By adjusting the local effective surfactant packing parameter through synthesis temperature, highly ordered SBA-16-type mesoporous silica materials have been synthesized by templating with a nonionic triblock copolymer Pluronic F68 in strongly acidic conditions at temperature 30～40°C with the addition of K₂SO₄. The prepared SBA-16-type mesoporous silica materials having Im3m cubic mesostructure were proved by the well-defined x-ray diffraction patterns combined with transmission electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that a transformation from faced-sphere to faced-polyhedron shape morphologies could be induced with increasing of the synthesis temperature. The nitrogen adsorption–desorption analysis revealed that the mean pore size (5.50～6.13 nm) of the prepared materials increased with increasing synthesis temperature. However, when the synthesis temperature exceeded 46°C, only disordered mesoporous silca was obtained. Our synthesis strategies by adjusting the local effective surfactant packing parameter through synthesis condition, even in a narrow range, would be used not only to optimize the synthesis conditions of reported mesoporous silca, but also to fabricate new mesoporous silica materials with well-ordered channel and anticipated morphologies.     

助表面活性剂对介孔二氧化硅孔径的影响

在十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)与硝酸形成的胶束体系中,分别加入正戊醇与正辛胺作助表面活性剂,合成出介孔二氧化硅.经小角XRD和N₂气体吸附与脱附实验证实,随着CTAB与正戊醇摩尔比的增加,介孔二氧化硅的孔径增加;而随CTAB与正辛胺摩尔比的增加,介孔二氧化硅的孔径减小.主要原因是正戊醇增大了CTAB胶束体积,从而导致介孔二氧化硅的孔径增加.而在CTAB与正辛胺的混合胶束中,正辛胺同硅酸盐作用力比CTAB强,导致介孔二氧化硅的孔径减小.     

Continuous synthesis process of hexagonal nanoplates of P6m ordered mesoporous silica

Hexagonally ordered mesoporous silica coined COK-12 was synthesized in a continuous process by combining streams of sodium silicate and citric acid/sodium citrate buffered solution of (ethylene oxide)(20)-(propylene oxide)(70)-(ethylene oxide)(20) triblock copolymer (Pluronic P123) from separate reservoirs. COK-12 precipitated spontaneously upon combining both streams at nearly neutral pH and ambient temperature. Stable intermediates of the COK-12 formation process could be prepared by limiting sodium silicate addition. Investigation of these intermediates using small-angle X-ray scattering revealed COK-12 formed via an assembly process departing from spherical uncharged core-shell P123-silica micelles. The sterical stabilization of these micelles decreased upon accumulation of silicate oligomers in their shell. Aggregation of the spherical micelles led to cylindrical micelles, which aligned and adopted the final hexagonal organization. This unprecedentedly fast formation of P6m ordered mesoporous silica was caused by two factors in the synthesis medium: the neutral pH favoring uncharged silicate oligomers and the high salt concentration promoting hydrophobic interactions with surfactant micelles leading to silica accumulation in the PEO shell. The easy continuous synthesis process is convenient for large-scale production. The platelet particle morphology with short and identical internal channels will be advantageous for many applications such as pore replication, nanotube or fiber growth, catalytic functionalization, drug delivery, film and sensor development, and in nano dyes as well as for investigation of pore diffusion phenomena.     

Synthesis of Mesoporous TiO2/SiO2 Hybrid Films as an Efficient Photocatalyst by Polymeric Micelle Assembly

Thermally stable mesoporous TiO₂/SiO₂ hybrid films with pore size of 50 nm have been synthesized by adopting the polymeric micelle‐assembly method. A triblock copolymer, poly(styrene‐b‐2‐vinyl pyridine‐b‐ethylene oxide), which serves as a template for the mesopores, was utilized to form polymeric micelles. The effective interaction of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) with the polymeric micelles enabled us to fabricate stable mesoporous films. By changing the molar ratio of TEOS and TTIP, several mesoporous TiO₂/SiO₂ hybrid films with different compositions can be synthesized. The presence of amorphous SiO₂ phase effectively retards the growth of anatase TiO₂ crystal in the pore walls and retains the original mesoporous structure, even at higher temperature (650 °C). These TiO₂/SiO₂ hybrid films are of very high quality, without any cracks or voids. The addition of SiO₂ phase to mesoporous TiO₂ films not only adsorbs more organic dyes, but also significantly enhances the photocatalytic activity compared to mesoporous pure TiO₂ film without SiO₂ phase.     

Mechanism of mesoporous silica formation. A time-resolved NMR and TEM study of silica-block copolymer aggregation

The dynamics of the synthesis of a mesoporous silica material SBA-15 is followed using time-resolved in situ 1H NMR and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Block copolymer-silica particles of two-dimensional hexagonal symmetry evolve from an initially micellar solution. The synthesis was carried out with the block copolymer Pluronic P123 (EO20-PO70-EO20) at 35 degrees C and using tetramethyl orthosilicate as the silica precursor. By using TEM, we can image different stages during the evolution of the synthesis. Flocs of spherical micelles held together by the polymerizing silica are observed prior to precipitation. With time, the structure of these flocs evolves and the transition from spherical to cylindrical hexagonally packed micelles can be monitored. The signal from the methyl protons of the PO part was recorded with 1H NMR. One observes a continuous increase in the signal width but with distinct changes in the spectral characteristics occurring in narrow time intervals. The spectral changes can be attributed to structural changes of the self-assembled aggregates. The 1H NMR and TEM studies reveal the same mechanism of formation. It is concluded that the aggregation is caused by a micelle-micelle attraction induced by oligomeric/polymeric silica that adsorbs to the EO palisade layer of the micelles and has the ability to bridge to another micelle. This adsorption also favors the formation of cylindrical aggregates relative to spherical micelles. The sequence of NMR and TEM observations can then be interpreted as the following sequence of events: (i) silicate adsorption on globular micelles possibly accompanied with some aggregate growth, (ii) the association of these globular micelles into flocs, (iii) the precipitation of these flocs, and (iv) micelle-micelle coalescence generating (semi)infinite cylinders that form the two-dimensional hexagonal packing.     

Synthesis and characterization of shell cross-linked micelles with hydroxy-functional coronas: a pragmatic alternative to dendrimers?

Shell cross-linked (SCL) micelles with hydroxy-functional coronas have been constructed in aqueous solution by exploiting the micellar self-assembly behavior of a new thermoresponsive ABC triblock copolymer. This copolymer was prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization in a convenient one-pot synthesis and comprised a thermoresponsive core-forming poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) block, a cross-linkable central poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (DMA) block, and a hydroxy-functional outer block based on poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) (GMA). DMF GPC analysis confirmed a unimodal molecular weight distribution for the PPO-PDMA-PGMA triblock copolymer precursor, with an M(n) of 12 100 and a polydispersity of approximately 1.26. This copolymer dissolved molecularly in aqueous solution at 5 degrees C but formed micelles with hydroxy-functional coronas above a critical micelle temperature of around 12 degrees C, which corresponded closely to the cloud point of the PPO macroinitiator. Cross-linking of the DMA residues using 1,2-bis(2-iodoethoxy)ethane produced SCL micelles that remained intact at 5 degrees C, i.e., below the cloud point of the core-forming PPO block. Dynamic light scattering studies confirmed that the SCL micelle diameter could be varied depending on the temperature employed for cross-linking: smaller, more compact SCL micelles were formed at higher temperatures, as expected. Since cross-linking involved quaternization of the DMA residues, the SCL micelles acquired cationic surface charge as judged by aqueous electrophoresis studies. These cationic SCL micelles were adsorbed onto near-monodisperse anionic silica sols, which were used as a model colloidal substrate. Thermogravimetric analyses indicated a SCL micelle mass loading of 2.5-4.4%, depending on the silica sol diameter and the initial micelle concentration. Aqueous electrophoresis measurements confirmed that surface charge reversal occurred after adsorption of the SCL micelles, and scanning electron microscopy studies revealed a uniform coating of SCL micelles on the silica particles.     

Mixed micelles of binary triblock polymer mixtures in pure water at 30 °C

This is the first report on the mixed micelles of binary triblock polymer (TBP) mixtures. The steady-state fluorescence and viscosity measurements have been carried out for the various binary combinations of TBP (i.e., P103 + F127/P84/L64/P104/P123) in pure water at 30 °C. All the TBP components selected for the study show clear micelle formation process. The pyrene fluorescence has been used to determine the critical micelle concentration. As micelle-forming TBP can also be termed as nonionic surfactants; therefore, their mixed micelle formation has been evaluated by applying the regular solution theory. It has been observed that this theory very well predicts the nature of mixed micelles. The P103 + F127/P84/L64 binary mixtures undergo mixed micelle formation due to the synergistic interactions while P103 + P104/P123 show antagonistic behavior. The results clearly show that the mixtures with greater number of poly(ethylene oxide) units undergo favorable mixing.     

以阴离子表面活性剂/阳离子聚铵复合胶束为模板合成有序介孔二氧化硅

基于静电作用, 阴离子表面活性剂可与阳离子聚铵组装形成复合胶束. 借助阳离子聚铵,复合胶束可以作为模板与硅源协同组装, 形成高度有序的介孔二氧化硅. 本文通过调变不同种类阴离子表面活性剂、合成体系pH值、合成温度及阳离子聚铵和硅源用量等因素, 合成了具有不同介观结构和形貌的介孔二氧化硅. 实验证实阴离子表面活性剂/阳离子聚铵复合胶束模板法是合成介孔二氧化硅的一种通用方法.     

Phase behavior and microstructures of nonionic fluorocarbon surfactant in aqueous systems

The phase behavior and self-assembled structures of perfluoroalkyl sulfonamide ethoxylate, C8F17SO2N(C3H7)(CH2CH2O)20H (abbreviated as C8F 17EO20), a nonionic fluorocarbon surfactant in an aqueous system, has been investigated by the small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) technique. The C8F17EO20 forms micelles and different liquid crystal phases depending on the temperature and composition. The fluorocarbon micellar structure induced by temperature or composition change and added fluorocarbon cosurfactant has been systematically studied. The SAXS data were analyzed by the indirect Fourier transformation (IFT) and the generalized indirect Fourier transformation (GIFT) depending on the volume fraction of the surfactant and complemented by plausible model calculations. The C8F17EO20 forms spherical type micelles above critical micelle concentration (cmc) in the dilute region. The micelle tends to grow with temperature; however, the growth is not significant on changing temperature from 15-75 degrees C, which is attributed to the higher clouding temperature of the surfactant (>100 degrees C). On the other hand, the micellar structure (shape and size) is apparently unaffected by composition (1-25 wt %) at 25 degrees C. Nevertheless, addition of fluorocarbon cosurfactant of structure C8F17SO2N(C3H7)(CH2CH2O)H (abbreviated as C8F17EO1) to the semidilute solution of C8F17EO20 (25 wt %) favors micellar growth, which finally leads to the formation of viscoelastic wormlike micelles, as confirmed by rheometry and supported by SAXS. The onset sphere-to-wormlike transition in the structure of micelles in the C8F17EO20/water/C8F17EO1 system is due to the fact that the C8F17EO1 tends to go to the surfactant palisade layer so that the critical packing parameter increases due to a decrease in the effective cross-sectional area of the headgroup. As a result, spherical micelles grow into a cylinder, which after a certain concentration entangle to form a rigid network structure of wormlike micelles.     

Variegated micelle surfaces: correlating the microstructure of mixed surfactant micelles with bulk solution properties

Electron paramagnetic resonance, viscosity, and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements have been used to study the interaction of mixed anionic/nonionic surfactant micelles with the polyampholytic protein gelatin. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the nonionic surfactant dodecylmalono-bis-N-methylglucamide (C12BNMG) were chosen as "interacting" and "noninteracting" surfactants, respectively; SDS micelles bind strongly to gelatin but C12BNMG micelles do not. Further, the two surfactants interact synergistically in the absence of the gelatin. The effects of total surfactant concentration and surfactant mole fraction have been investigated. Previous work (Griffiths et al. Langmuir 2000, 16 (26), 9983-9990) has shown that above a critical solution mole fraction, mixed micelles bind to gelatin. This critical mole fraction corresponds to a micelle surface that has no displaceable water (Griffiths et al. J. Phys. Chem. B 2001, 105 (31), 7465). On binding of the mixed micelle, the bulk solution viscosity increases, with the viscosity-surfactant concentration behavior being strongly dependent on the solution surfactant mole fraction. The viscosity at a stoichiometry of approximately one micelle per gelatin molecule observed in SDS-rich mixtures scales with the surface area of the micelle occupied by the interacting surfactant, SDS. Below the critical solution mole fraction, there is no significant increase in viscosity with increasing surfactant concentration. Further, the SANS behavior of the gelatin/mixed surfactant systems below the critical micelle mole fraction can be described as a simple summation of those arising from the separate gelatin and binary mixed surfactant micelles. By contrast, for systems above the critical micelle mole fraction, the SANS data cannot be described by such a simple approach. No signature from any unperturbed gelatin could be detected in the gelatin/mixed surfactant system. The gelatin scattering is very similar in form to the surfactant scattering, confirming the widely accepted picture that the polymer "wraps" around the micelle surface. The gelatin scattering in the presence of deuterated surfactants is insensitive to the micelle composition provided the composition is above the critical value, suggesting that the viscosity enhancement observed arises from the number and strength of the micelle-polymer contact points rather than the gelatin conformation per se.     

混合反胶束的电导与微结构研究

反胶束是两亲分子在非极性溶剂中形成的一种有序组合体，在医药、化工、采油、胶束催化及酶催化等领域中有重要应用．与胶束溶液相比，人们对反胶束的形成与结构的了解至今仍不充分．特别是对于由混合表面活性剂形成的反胶束的研究几乎无人涉及．本文采用动态光散射、电导及荧光光谱等手段对阴离子表面活性剂AOT与非离子表面活性剂形成的混合反胶束进行了研究，旨在探讨利用表面活性剂的复配来调节和控制反胶束的结构和性能．亚实验部分二异辛基磺化琉璃酸钠（AOT，Sigma公司）；Brij30为含4个氧乙烯基（EO基）的十二碳醇（AcrosOrgani…     

Evolution of packing parameters in the structural changes of silica mesoporous crystals: cage-type, 2D cylindrical, bicontinuous diamond and gyroid, and lamellar

Cage-type, two-dimensional (2D) cylindrical hexagonal (C), bicontinuous diamond (D), bicontinuous gyroid (G), and one-dimensional (1D) lamellar (L) structures of silica mesoporous crystals (SMCs) were obtained by using the anionic surfactant N-stearoyl-l-glutamic acid (C(18)GluA) as a template in the presence of the nonionic surfactant C(16)(EO)(10) (Brij-56). The mesostructures were controlled by the organic/inorganic interface curvature change induced by Brij-56. A synthesis-field diagram showed that the mesostructure changed in the sequence cage-type → C → intergrowth of C and D → intergrowth of C and G → D → G → L with increase of the amount of Brij-56. Mixed micelles were formed by the anionic and nonionic surfactants, the packing parameter g of which increased with increasing the addition amount of nonionic surfactant and the reaction temperature. The local g parameter was obtained from electron crystallography reconstruction results by calculating mean curvatures and Gaussian curvatures from the equi-electrostatic potential surface. The intergrowth of C and D and two kinds of intergrowth of C and G are also discussed.     

Formation and microstructure transition of F127/TX-100 complex

Formation and structure transition of the complex composed of triblock copolymer F127 and nonionic surfactant TX-100 have been investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Three TX-100 concentration regions are identified, within which TX-100/20 mg/mL F127 complex undergoes different temperature-induced structure transitions. In low concentration region (< 9.42 mM), F127 single molecular species (unimers) wrap around TX-100 micelles forming F127/TX-100 complex with TX-100 micelle as the skeleton at a lower temperature (5 degrees C), and the skeleton transfers to F127 micelle at higher temperature (40 degrees C); in intermediate TX-100 concentration region (9.42-94.85 mM), the skeleton of F127/TX-100 complex transfers from TX-100 micelle successively into F127 micelle and TX-100 micelle again upon heating. The interaction of F127 with TX-100 is saturated in high TX-100 concentration region (> 157.57 mM), and free TX-100 micelles coexist with larger clusters of F127/TX-100 complexes. In addition, TX-100-induced F127/TX-100 complex formation and structure transition are also investigated at constant temperatures. The results show that within 5-10 degrees C, F127 unimers mainly adsorb on the surface of TX-100 micelles just like normal water soluble polymers; in the temperature region of 15-25 degrees C, TX-100 micelles prompts F127 micelle formation. Within 30-40 degrees C, TX-100 inserts into F127 micelles leading to the breakdown of F127 aggregates at higher TX-100 concentrations, and the obtained unimers thread through TX-100 micelles forming complex with TX-100 micelle as skeleton.     

Synthesis and self‐assembly of tadpole‐shaped organic/inorganic hybrid poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane via RAFT polymerization

Aminopropylisobutyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) was used to prepare a POSS‐containing reversible addition‐fragmentation transfer (RAFT) agent. The POSS‐containing RAFT agent was used in the RAFT polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) to produce tadpole‐shaped organic/inorganic hybrid Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM). The results show that the POSS‐containing RAFT agent was an effective chain transfer agent in the RAFT polymerization of NIPAM, and the polymerization kinetics were found to be pseudo‐first‐order behavior. The thermal properties of the organic/inorganic hybrid PNIPAM were also characterized by differential scanning calorimetry. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the tadpole‐shaped inorganic/organic hybrid PNIPAM was enhanced by POSS molecule. The self‐assembly behavior of the tadpole‐shaped inorganic/organic hybrid PNIPAM was investigated by atomic force microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The results show the core‐shell nanostructured micelles with a uniform diameter. The diameter of the micelle increases with the molecular weight of the hybrid PNIPAM. Surprisingly, the micelle of the tadpole‐shaped inorganic/organic hybrid PNIPAM with low molecular weight has a much bigger and more compact core than that with high molecular weight. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7049–7061, 2008