In situ synthesis of temperature-sensitive hollow microspheres via interfacial polymerization.
In this communication, a novel one-pot synthetic strategy for preparing hollow PNIPAM microspheres via an interfacial polymerization approach at the interface of an inverse W/O emulsion has been proposed and demonstrated. The results show that the prepared PNIPAM microspheres have real empty core and polymer shell structure, with a size range of 1-3 mum. The hollow microspheres experienced a reversible swelling and deswelling process by mediating the temperature below and above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the PNIPAM. The new approach not only provided a unique technical pathway to prepare hollow PNIPAM microspheres in situ under mild reaction conditions but also opened a platform for helping to understand the mechanism of diffusion, migration of the PNIPAM at an oil/water interface above its LCST, and the polymer layer formation mechanism as well.
Sun
Qunhui
Q
School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and IPST at GT, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0620, USA.
Deng
Yulin
Y
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008863:Microspheres; D013696:Temperature
D000180:Acrylic Resins; C052970:poly-N-isopropylacrylamide