Role of hydration and water coordination in micellization of Pluronic block copolymers

► Hydration of Pluronics is small solute hydration of its EO and PO subunits. ► Coordination types in interacting water are the same as those in pure bulk water. ► Representation of each coordination depends on the state of the copolymer chain. ► The corona of Pluronic PE6400 is heterogenous. ► Heterogeneities are important in application (loading/release of therapeutics).