Two Non-covalent Methods to Decorate Nanoparticles with Block Copolymers

The physical adsorption of block copolymers is a simple and reliable approach to functionalize the surface of organic or inorganic nanoparticles. This article presents two novel methods of particle coating with block copolymers that may apply to various aqueous colloidal dispersions. The first method relies on the use of charged block copolymers having two adsorbing blocks, which can adopt a typical anchor‐buoy conformation at the particle surface when proper conditions are used. The second approach consists of self‐assembling a bilayer of amphiphilic block copolymers around charged nanoparticles. In both cases, a special emphasis is placed on the process used to control and orient the molecular interactions between the copolymer and the particles. Two novel approaches of particle functionalization with block copolymers are introduced. The first method is based on the physical adsorption of a charged block copolymer with two adsorbing blocks. The second method consists of self‐assembling a bilayer of amphiphilic block copolymer at the particle surface through a change of solvent polarity.