Preparation of monodisperse thermo-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hollow microcapsules.
We successfully developed a novel and simple method for preparation of monodisperse thermo-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hollow microcapsules at the interface of water-in-oil (W/O) single emulsions at a temperature below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAM. The prepared PNIPAM microcapsules are featured with hollow structures and thin membranes, high monodispersity, excellent reversible thermo-sensitivity and fast response to environmental temperature. This approach exhibits great interests in preparing monodisperse thermo-sensitive microcapsules for encapsulating bioactive materials or drugs requiring mild encapsulation conditions, because of the flexibility in choosing substances being dissolved in the aqueous phase. The preparation methodology demonstrated in this study provides a unique approach for preparing monodisperse hollow polymeric microcapsules with W/O single emulsions.
Cheng
Chang-Jing
CJ
School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China.
Chu
Liang-Yin
LY
Ren
Ping-Wei
PW
Zhang
Jie
J
Hu
Lin
L
D000178:Acrylamides / Q000737:chemistry*; D000180:Acrylic Resins; D002214:Capsules / Q000737:chemistry*; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010316:Particle Size; D044367:Phase Transition; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
D000178:Acrylamides; D000180:Acrylic Resins; D002214:Capsules; D004655:Emulsions; D011108:Polymers; C052970:poly-N-isopropylacrylamide