Transition from smectic nanofibers to smectic vesicles in the self-assemblies of PEG-b-liquid crystal polycarbonatesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c7py01131h

This work reports on the self-assemblies of amphiphilic biodegradable cholesterol-containing block copolymers PEG- b -PMCC. The polymers are prepared through the ring opening polymerization (ROP) of a methyl and cholesteryl substituted trimethylenecarbonate monomer (MCC). They can self-assemble into smectic ellipsoidal vesicles in water through the transition from smectic nanofibers. A transition from nanofibers to ellipsoidal vesicles through lamellas was evidenced as the self-assembling mechanism for biodegradable smectic polycarbonate-based amphiphilic block copolymers.