Direct monitoring of self-assembly of copolymeric micelles by a luminescent molecular rotorElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Synthesis and NMR characterization of all new materials. Details on DLS and TEM characterization, details on the luminescence behaviour of rotors. See DOI: 10.1039/c3cc44590a

The detailed analysis of the time resolved luminescence of a specifically designed fluorescent molecular rotor enables the direct monitoring of the self-assembly of a poly( N , N -dimethylacrylamide)- block -polystyrene (PDMA- b -PS) copolymer into core-corona nanoparticles. Comparison with bulk PS indicates hard confinement of the micelle core, due to the solvation of the hydrophilic PDMA corona. Time resolved luminescence of a suitable molecular rotor ( 2 ) enables the fast and non-invasive direct monitoring of polymeric micelles ( 1 ) formation.