title: Preparation of magnetic microspheres from water-in-oil emulsion stabilized by block copolymer dispersant.
abstract: A new method for the preparation of magnetic microspheres is reported. The preparation involved first the dispersion of an aqueous phase, containing magnetite nanoparticles and a water-soluble homopolymer, into droplets in an organic medium using an amphiphilic block copolymer as the dispersant. This was followed by water distillation at a raised temperature from the aqueous droplets to yield polymer/magnetite particles. The structure of the particles was then locked in by a reagent being added to cross-link the water-soluble copolymer block and homopolymer. Since the hydrophobic block of the copolymer consisted of a protected polyester, the removal of the protective moieties from the coronal chains yielded poly(acrylic acid) or other functional polymers to render water dispersibility to the spheres and to enable biomolecule immobilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, 90 Queen's Crescent, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6. gliu@chem.queensu.ca
authors.forename: Guojun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Husheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jiayun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Say-Jong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Qingping
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Guohan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D004655:Emulsions / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D008280:Magnetics; D008863:Microspheres; D009821:Oils; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D009821:Oils; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water