Aggregation number distributions and mesoglobules in dilute solutions of diblock and triblock copolymers

We investigate the aggregation number and size distributions for inter-mole cular clusters of amphiphilic diblock and triblock copolymers in poor solve nt at very low concentrations. Diblocks and triblocks with hydrophilic ends are shown to possess narrow distributions corresponding to formation of mo nodispersed mesoglobules. Diblocks with hydrophobic ends are found to produ ce inter-cluster multimers due to bridging by the hydrophilic middle blocks , resulting ill polydisperse distributions. Implications of these observati ons for the preparation of monodispersed nanoparticles and, potentially, fo r the understanding of the quaternary structure of proteins are discussed.