Self-Assembly of Polymers
Polymer self-assembly - a spontaneous process driven by non-covalent interactions – is commonly used to obtain ordered structures with different morphologies and properties at nanometer length scales. The dynamic nature of non-covalent interactions allows these self-assembled structures to respond chemically or structurally to environmental changes which are quite important in various applications such as drug release, drug delivery, tissue engineering in the biomedical area, and sensors, multi-functional coatings and catalysis in material technologies. Complexation-induced self-assembly of block copolymers has also been demonstrated to be effective in tuning the morphology and the properties of various polymeric systems such as nanoporous materials, smart membranes and proton conducting materials.
This process involved molecular interactions:
•Electrostatic
•H-bonding
•Hydrophobic Interactions
Self-Assembled Structures


Layer-by-Layer Film Formation by Self-Assembly of Polymers
Selected Publications
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Altıntaş, Z., Adatoz, E. B., Ijaz, A., Miko, A., & Demirel, A. L. (2019). Self-assembled poly (2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)/malonic acid hollow fibers in aqueous solutions. European Polymer Journal, 120, 109222.
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Özaltın, T. F., Aviyente, V., Atılgan, C., & Demirel, L. (2017). Multiscale modeling of poly (2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) chains in aqueous solution. European Polymer Journal, 88, 594-604.
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Hendessi, S., Güner, P. T., Miko, A., & Demirel, A. L. (2017). Hydrogen bonded multilayers of poly (2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) stabilized silver nanoparticles and tannic acid. European Polymer Journal, 88, 666-678.
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Demirel, A. (2016, August). Hydrogen-bonded self-assembly of poly (2-alkyl-2-oxazoline) s. In ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (Vol. 252). 1155 16TH ST, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 USA: AMER CHEMICAL SOC.
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Demirel, A. L., Tatar Güner, P., Verbraeken, B., Schlaad, H., Schubert, U. S., & Hoogenboom, R. (2016). Revisiting the crystallization of poly (2‐alkyl‐2‐oxazoline) s. Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, 54(7), 721-729.
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Demirel, A. L. (2014, August). Poly (2-alkyl-2-oxazoline) s: Bulk crystallization and solution self-assembly. In ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (Vol. 248). 1155 16TH ST, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 USA: AMER CHEMICAL SOC.
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Yusan, P., Tuncel, I., Bütün, V., Demirel, A. L., & Erel-Goktepe, I. (2014). pH-responsive layer-by-layer films of zwitterionic block copolymer micelles. Polymer Chemistry, 5(12), 3777-3787.
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Guener, P. T., Miko, A., & Demirel, A. L. (2012, March). Formation of poly (2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) fibers in aqueous solutions. In ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (Vol. 243). 1155 16TH ST, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 USA: AMER CHEMICAL SOC.
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Güner, P. T., Miko, A., Schweinberger, F. F., & Demirel, A. L. (2012). Self-assembled poly (2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) fibers in aqueous solutions. Polymer Chemistry, 3(2), 322-324.
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Erel, I., Karahan, H. E., Tuncer, C., Bütün, V., & Demirel, A. L. (2012). Hydrogen-bonded multilayers of micelles of a dually responsive dicationic block copolymer. Soft Matter, 8(3), 827-836.
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Demirel, A. L., Meyer, M., & Schlaad, H. (2007). Formation of polyamide nanofibers by directional crystallization in aqueous solution. Angewandte Chemie, 119(45), 8776-8778.