Cryo-TEM and molecular rotor fluorescence as complementary techniques for the characterization of cationic amphiphilic copolymer microdomains in aqueous medium

The behaviour in aqueous medium of cationic amphiphilic copolymers derived from 3-vinylpyridine has been studied. The ability of these polymers to for m hydrophobic microdomains was shown by fluorescence spectroscopy using a m olecular rotor as a fluorescent probe, and the resulting structure was visu alized by cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The parameters (shape and size) obtained from cryo-TEM are discussed in relation to the co polymer composition and the local viscosity defined by the rotor fluorescen ce quantum yield. (C) 1999 Society of Chemical Industry.