%0 Journal Article
%T Micellization of Pluronic P123 in Water/Ethanol/Turpentine Oil Mixed Solvents: Hybrid Particle¨CField Molecular Dynamic Simulation
%J Polymers | An Open Access Journal from MDPI
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11111806
%X The hybrid particle¨Cfield molecular dynamics simulation method (MD-SCF) was applied to study the self-assembly of Pluronic PEO 20-PPO 70-PEO 20 (P123) in water/ethanol/turpentine oil- mixed solvents. In particular, the micellization process of P123 at low concentration (less than 20%) in water/ethanol/turpentine oil-mixed solvents was investigated. The aggregation number, radius of gyration, and radial density profiles were calculated and compared with experimental data to characterize the structures of the micelles self-assembled from P123 in the mixed solvent. This study confirms that the larger-sized micelles are formed in the presence of ethanol, in addition to the turpentine oil-swollen micelles. Furthermore, the spherical micelles and vesicles were both observed in the self-assembly of P123 in the water/ethanol/turpentine oil-mixed solvent. The results of this work aid the understanding of the influence of ethanol and oil on P123 micellization, which will help with the design of effective copolymer-based formulations
%U https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/11/11/1806