Optically active micelles from self-assembly of MPEG-b-PMALM copolymer in water

Reported here is fabrication of optically active micelles with broad range of morphologies in water, such as spheres, cylinders, and vesicles, from self-assembly of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether-b-poly- (methacryloyl-L-leucine methyl ester) (MPEG-b-PMALM) copolymer, which was prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) from vinyl monomer bearing chiral amino acid moieties, N-methacryloyl L-leucine methyl ester (MALM), using bromine (Br) end-capped poly(ethylene golycol) monomethylether (MPEG-Br) as macroinitiator in the presence of CuBr/Me6TREN as catalytic system.