title: Biocatalysis in the development of functional polymer-ceramic nanocomposites.
abstract: Fluorescent silica/polymer nanocomposites have been synthesized by condensing tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) around fluorescent polymer strands of poly(2-naphthol). The polymer is biocatalytically synthesized via peroxidase catalyzed polymerization in micelles of the cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Silica condensation at the micelle-water interface results in encapsulation of the polymer. Fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescent light microscopy provide critical evidence that the polymer luminescence properties are conferred to the composite material. The fabrication of polymer entrapped in ordered, mesoporous materials represents a viable step toward the development of functional polymer-ceramic nanocomposites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA.
authors.forename: Christy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Mohit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: Jibao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Yunfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Kyriakos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McPherson
authors.forename: Arijit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bose
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D000077286:Cetrimonium; D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008823:Micelles; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009284:Naphthols / Q000737:chemistry; D017646:Organosilicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds; D008823:Micelles; D009284:Naphthols; D017646:Organosilicon Compounds; D011108:Polymers; C500740:poly(2-naphthol); C500739:tetramethyl orthosilicate; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D000077286:Cetrimonium