title: A controlled approach to iron oxide nanoparticles functionalization for magnetic polymer brushes.
abstract: In this article, we report a detailed study of surface modification of magnetite nanoparticles by means of three different grafting agents, functional for the preparation of magnetic polymer brushes. 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), 3-chloropropyltriethoxysilane (CPTES), and 2-(4-chlorosulfonylphenyl)ethyltrichlorosilane (CTCS) were chosen as grafting models through which a wide range of polymer brushes can be obtained. By means of accurate thermogravimetric analysis a good control over the amount of immobilized molecules is achieved, and optimal operating conditions for each grafting agent are consequently determined. Graft densities ranging from approximately 4 to 7 molecules per nm(2) are obtained, depending on the conditions used. In addition, the surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) carried out with CTCS-coated nanoparticles is presented as an example of polymer brushes, leading to a well-defined and dense polymeric coating of around 0.6 PMMA chains per nm(2).
authors: CNR-Istituto per lo Studio delle Macromolecole (ISMAC), via E. Bassini 15, 20133 Milano, Italy. f.galeotti@ismac.cnr.it
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Galeotti
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Bertini
authors: Guido
authors: G
authors: Scavia
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Bolognesi