title: Synthesis and self-assembly of amphiphilic polymeric microparticles.
abstract: We report the synthesis and self-assembly of amphiphilic, nonspherical, polymeric microparticles. Wedge-shaped particles bearing segregated hydrophilic and hydrophobic sections were synthesized in a microfludic channel by polymerizing across laminar coflowing streams of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers using continuous flow lithography (CFL). Particle monodispersity was characterized by measuring both the size of the particles formed and the extent of amphiphilicity. The coefficient of variation (COV) was found to be less than 2.5% in all measured dimensions. Particle structure was further characterized by measuring the curvature of the interface between the sections and the extent of cross-linking using FTIR spectroscopy. The amphiphilic particles were allowed to self-assemble in water or at water-oil interfaces. In water, the geometry of the particles enabled the formation of micelle-like structures, while in emulsions, the particles migrated to the oil-water interface and oriented themselves to minimize their surface energy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Dhananjay
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dendukuri
authors.forename: T Alan
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Hatton
authors.forename: Patrick S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Doyle
mesh_terms: D002627:Chemistry, Physical / Q000379:methods; D004655:Emulsions; D008027:Light; D008823:Micelles; D044085:Microfluidics; D008863:Microspheres; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009821:Oils; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D008823:Micelles; D009821:Oils; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water