title: Microspherical hydrogel particles based on silica nanoparticle-webbed polymer networks.
abstract: Spherical hybrid hydrogel microparticles were facilely fabricated by particulation of an aqueous mixture of hydrophilic copolymer with alkoxysilyl side chains and silica nanoparticles in water/silicone oil suspensions. Inside the aqueous phase, the copolymers were webbed with silica nanoparticles to form polymer network through the silane coupling reactions between reactive side chains of copolymer with the silanol groups on silica nanoparticles. An amino-functionalized silane coupling reagent was used to terminate remaining reactive sites at the surface of the hydrogel particles to avoid aggregation. The size of the spherical hydrogel particles was well controlled by the viscosity of the silicone oil, whereas their properties were controlled by composition. The mechanical strength of the microspherical hybrid hydrogel was increased significantly with increasing the concentration of silica nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan; Kumamoto Institute for PhotoElectro Organics (Phoenics), 3-11-38 Higashimachi, Kumamoto, Japan. Electronic address: takafuji@kumamoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takafuji
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan; Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Ashraful
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan; Kumamoto Institute for PhotoElectro Organics (Phoenics), 3-11-38 Higashimachi, Kumamoto, Japan. Electronic address: ihara@kumamoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ihara
keywords: Multiple cross-linking; Silica nano particle; Spherical hydrogel particle; Water-in-oil suspension