ROMPISA: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly

Herein we report a polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) process with ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). We utilize a peptide-based norbornenyl monomer as a hydrophobic unit to provide a range of nanostructures at room temperature yet at high solids concentrations of 20 wt % in combination with an oligoethylene glycol based norbornenyl monomer. Evaluation of the polymerizations under mild conditions highlight that good control is maintained along with high monomer conversion of greater than 99%, indicating that the living polymerization is unaffected during the PISA process. The demonstration broadens the scope of the PISA process to a new living polymerization methodology toward the development of easily accessible and highly functionalized nanostructures in situ.