Effects of Vesicle Formation on Molecular Weight Characteristics of Copolymers Synthesized by Ring Opening Polymerization of -Caprolactone Initiated by a Diol-Functionalized Nanoparticle

Hybrid organic-inorganic nanocomposites based on polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticles have attracted much attention during the recent years due totheir improved properties like thermal and chemical stability, biocompatibility, enhanced modulus, etc. [1,2]. IncorporatingPOSS diol, as a co-monomer and initiator, is tried via coordination-insertion ring opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) [3]. However, the potential ofamphiphilic POSS derivatives to form vesicular structures during syntheses has been never considered throughout the literature as will be reported here.