VESICLE-TEMPLATED POLYMER HOLLOW SPHERES

A cross-linking polymerization of hydrophobic monomers within the surf actant bilayer of vesicles leads to the formation of a quasi-two-dimen sional polymer network. Depending on the dimensions of the templating vesicles, polymer hollow spheres can be produced with diameters rangin g from several tens of nanometers up to hundreds of micrometers. The h ollow sphere morphology of the polymer particles is proved by confocal laser scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and static a nd dynamic light scattering. After extraction of the surfactant matrix , the polymer particles contract considerably without loss of their sp herical shape. The extend of the contraction depends sensitively on th e crosslinking density of the polymer network and shows a similar scal ing behavior as branched polymers.