Latex and hollow particles of reactive polypyrrole: preparation, properties, and decoration by gold nanospheres

Polypyrrole-coated polystyrene latex particles bearing reactive N-amino functional groups (PS-PPyNH2) were prepared by the in-situ copolymerization of pyrrole (Py) and the active amino-functionalized pyrrole (PyNH2) in the presence of 1.33 microm-diameter polystyrene (PS) latex particles. These particles were prepared by dispersion polymerization of styrene using poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone), PNVP, as a steric stabilizer. The functionalized polypyrrole-coated PS particles (PS-PPyNH2) were characterized in terms of their particle size and surface morphology using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) detected pyrrole-NH2 repeat units at the surface of the latex particles, indicating that this monomer had indeed copolymerized with pyrrole. The core-shell structure of the PS-PPyNH2 particles was confirmed by etching the polystyrene core in THF, leading to the formation of hollow conducting polymer capsules. The PS-PPyNH2 particles were then decorated with citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles via electrostatic interactions. Furthermore, etching of the polystyrene core resulted in the formation of gold-decorated PPyNH2 hollow capsules.     

Polypyrrole core/polyacrolein shell latex for protein immobilization

The redox polymerization of pyrrole, with ferric chloride as oxidant, carried out in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), yielded polypyrrole latex particles. The polypyrrole latex was used, as seed, for the radical polymerization of acrolein. The resulting polypyrrole core/polyacrolein shell latex (poly(P/A)) was suitable for immobilization of up to 11 mg of human serum albumin (HSA) and/or 33 mg of human gamma globulin (G) per 1 g of latex particles.The work was supported by the KBN Grant 2 0624 91 01     

Tailoring of carboxyl‐decorated magnetic latex particles using seeded emulsion polymerization

In this research, submicron and carboxyl‐functionalized magnetic latex particles were elaborated by using seeded emulsion polymerization technique in presence of oil‐in‐water (o/w) magnetic emulsion as seed. The polymerization conditions were optimized in order to get well‐defined latex particles with magnetic core and polymer shell bearing carboxylic (–COOH) functionality. Starting from (o/w) magnetic emulsion as seed, synthesis process was performed by copolymerization of styrene (St) monomer with the cross‐linker divinylbenzene (DVB) in presence of 4,4′‐azobis(4‐cyanopentanoic acid) (ACPA) as a carboxyl‐bearing initiator. The prepared magnetic latex particles were first characterized in terms of particle size, chemical composition, morphology, magnetic properties, magnetic content, and colloidal stability using various techniques, e.g. particle size analyzer using dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique, Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, thermogravimetric analysis, and zeta potential measurements as a function of pH of the dispersion media, respectively. The prepared magnetic latex particles were then used as second seed for further functionalization with methacrylic acid (MAA) in order to enhance carboxylic groups on the magnetic particle's surface. The results showed that final magnetic latex particles possessed spherical morphology with core‐shell structure and enriched carboxylic acid functionality. More importantly, they exhibited superparamagnetism with high magnetic content (58.42 wt%) and high colloidal stability, which considered as the main requirements for their application in the biomedical diagnostic domains. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

壳层可控导电聚吡咯/聚苯乙烯复合微球及聚吡咯中空微胶囊的制备

在导电聚合物含量较小时,含核壳结构的导电聚合物复合粒子就可以具有和本体相当的导电率,且加工性好,近年来这种核壳结构微粒的制备已引起了科学家们的广泛关注．Armes等[制备了导电聚吡咯、导电聚苯胺包覆聚苯乙烯的核壳结构胶体粒子及聚苯胺和二氧化硅的纳米复合物．刘正平等用改进的方法在粒径为116nm的单分散聚苯乙烯乳胶粒子上包覆聚吡咯,     

反应性复合乳液的合成、表征及其交联反应

利用种子半连续乳液聚合方法合成了核层或壳层带有环氧基以及壳层带有羧基的3种不同核/壳结构的乳胶粒子,通过物理共混带环氧基和羧基的乳胶粒子,得到了两种反应性复合乳液.利用透射电镜和激光动态光散射对乳胶粒子进行了表征,其粒径分布较窄,粒径分布的多分散系数为0.062,平均粒径约76 nm,乳胶粒子具有明显的核/壳结构.通过胶膜的凝胶率和膨胀率的测定和红外光谱分析对反应性复合乳液中乳胶粒子的扩散及交联反应进行了研究,并探讨了不同核壳结构复合乳液对涂膜机械性能的影响.研究表明,当反应性复合乳液中的环氧基和羧基分别分布在乳胶粒子的核层和壳层时,有利于聚合物分子链的充分扩散和化学交联反应的进行,从而提高涂膜的物理化学性能,当甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯(GMA)含量为10 wt%时,涂膜的拉伸强度达20.3 MPa.     

Responsive core-shell latex particles as colloidosome microcapsule membranes

Responsive core-shell latex particles are used to prepare colloidosome microcapsules using thermal annealing and internal cross linking of the shell, allowing the production of the microcapsules at high concentrations. The core-shell particles are composed of a polystyrene core and a shell of poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate]-b-poly[methyl methacrylate] (PDMA-b-PMMA) chains adsorbed onto the core surface, providing steric stabilization. The PDMA component of the adsorbed polymer shell confers thermally responsive and pH-responsive characteristics to the latex particle, and it also provides glass transitions at temperatures lower than those of the core and reactive amine groups. These features facilitate the formation of stable Pickering emulsion droplets and the immobilization of the latex particle monolayer on these droplets to form colloidosome microcapsules. The immobilization is achieved through thermal annealing or cross linking of the shell under mild conditions feasible for large-scale economic production. We demonstrate here that it is possible to anneal the particle monolayer on the emulsion drop surface at 75-86 °C by using the lower glass-transition temperature of the shell compared to that of the polystyrene cores (～108 °C). The colloidosome microcapsules that are formed have a rigid membrane basically composed of a densely packed monolayer of particles. Chemical cross linking has also been successfully achieved by confining a cross linker within the disperse droplet. This approach leads to the formation of single-layered stimulus-responsive soft colloidosome membranes and provides the advantage of working at very high emulsion concentrations because interdroplet cross linking is thus avoided. The porosity and mechanical strength of the microcapsules are also discussed here in terms of the observed structure of the latex particle monolayers forming the capsule membrane.     

Effect of the Shell Crosslinking Level andCore/Shell Ratio on the Morphology of LatexParticles in the Preparation of Hollow Latexes简

Three-layer core/shell latex particles with various shell crosslinking level and shell thickness were prepared by multistep emulsion polymerization, and the hollow latex particles with different morphologies were then obtained after alkali post-treatment. Influences of divinyl benzene(DVB) content and the core/shell mass ratio on emulsion polymerization and particle morphology were investigated. Results showed that with the increase of DVB content, the percentage of total amount of ―COOH on the particle surface and free in aqueous phase(PSFa) decreased, and the morphology of the post-treated particles underwent evolution from cracked, intact hollow to deficient swelling structure. Decreasing the core/shell mass ratio could not only make more carboxyl groups encapsulated by the shell, but also increase the shell resistance to the swelling of the core. The uniform hollow latex particles with intact morphology were obtained when the DVB content was 3.54 wt% and the core/shell mass ratio was 1/6.     

Acetal-functionalized polymer particles useful for immunoassays

The synthesis of core-shell type polystyrene monodisperse particles with surface acetal groups was carried out by a two-step emulsion polymerization process. In a first step, the core was synthesized by batch emulsion polymerization of styrene (St), and in the second step, the shell was polymerized by batch emulsion terpolymerization of styrene, methacrylic acid (MAA), and methacrylamidoacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal (MAAMA), using the seed obtained previously. With the aim of analyzing the effect of the thickness of the shell, the pH of the reaction medium and the weight ratio of the termonomers to prepare the shell, on the amount of the functionalized groups, several core-shell type latex particles were synthesized by two-step emulsion polymerization in a batch reactor. The latexes were characterized by TEM and conductimetric titration to obtain the particle size distribution and the amount of carboxyl and acetal groups on the surface, respectively. Looking for the applicability of the synthesized latexes in immunoassays, IgG a-CRP rabbit antibody was covalently bonded to the surface of the particles synthesized in neutral medium. The complex latex-protein was immunologically active against the CRP antigen. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1605–1610, 1997     

Study of the drying behavior of model latex blends during film formation: influence of carboxyl groups

Latex blending is a strategy used to eliminate volatile organic compounds from latex coatings formulations. This paper focuses on the study of the drying kinetics of model hard/soft latex blends and the influence of the presence of carboxyl groups on these particles as well as the extent of neutralization of the carboxyl groups with different bases. The model latex blend was comprised of clean, well‐defined polystyrene hard and poly(n‐butyl methacrylate‐co‐n‐butyl acrylate) soft latex particles with monodisperse particle sizes, homogeneous copolymer composition, and independent control of particle size and carboxyl group content. Drying models are discussed. It was found that the presence of carboxyl groups in the latex particles retarded the drying rate of the model latex blends. When the carboxyl groups present in the latex blends with low carboxyl group coverage on polystyrene particles were neutralized by using ammonium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, the drying rate increased. When the carboxyl groups present in the latex blends with a high carboxyl group coverage on polystyrene particles were neutralized by sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or cesium hydroxide, the drying rate first decreased and then increased as the extent of the neutralization increased. However, the neutralization of these carboxyl groups with ammonium hydroxide increased the drying rate of the latex blends within a broad range of neutralization conditions (from 0 to 100%). A cluster model was proposed to explain these phenomena.     

单分散聚丙烯酸丁酯-二氧化硅核壳粒子的制备

近年来,有机-无机核壳材料因其具有可调的光、电、磁等特性而备受关注．无机物外壳可以增强粒子的热力学稳定性、机械强度和抗拉性能．高分子乳胶粒内核具有弹性,且易成膜,外部包覆无机物的乳胶粒可结合两者特性并产生协同效应．     

Highly magnetic latexes from submicrometer oil in water ferrofluid emulsions

The synthesis of functionalized submicrometer magnetic latex particles is described as obtained from a preformed magnetic emulsion composed of organic ferrofluid droplets dispersed in water. Composite (polystyrene/γ‐Fe₂O₃) particles were prepared according to a two‐step procedure including the swelling of ferrofluid droplets with styrene and a crosslinking agent (divinyl benzene) followed by seeded emulsion polymerization with either an oil‐soluble [2,2′‐azobis(2‐isobutyronitrile)] or water‐soluble (potassium persulfate) initiator. Depending on the polymerization conditions, various particle morphologies were obtained, ranging from asymmetric structures, for which the polymer phase was separated from the inorganic magnetic phase, to regular core–shell morphologies showing a homogeneous encapsulation of the magnetic pigment by a crosslinked polymeric shell. The magnetic latexes were extensively characterized to determine their colloidal and magnetic properties. The desired core–shell structure was efficiently achieved with a given styrene/divinyl benzene ratio, potassium persulfate as the initiator, and an amphiphilic functional copolymer as the ferrofluid droplet stabilizer. Under these conditions, ferrofluid droplets were successfully turned into superparamagnetic polystyrene latex particles, about 200 nm in size, containing a large amount of iron oxide (60 wt %) and bearing carboxylic surface charges. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2642–2656, 2006     

Preparation and clinical application of immunomagnetic latex

Magnetic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid) [P(MMA–MAA)] composite polymer latices were synthesized by two‐stage soapless emulsion polymerization in the presence of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) ferrofluids. Different types and concentrations of fatty acids were reacted with the Fe₃O₄ particles, which were prepared by the coprecipitation of Fe(II) and Fe(III) salts to obtain stable Fe₃O₄ ferrofluids. The Fe₃O₄/polymer particles were monodisperse, and the composite polymer particle size was approximately 100 nm. The morphology of the magnetic composite polymer latex particles was a core–shell structure. The core was PMMA encapsulating Fe₃O₄ particles, and the shell was the P(MMA–MAA) copolymer. The carboxylic acid functional groups (COOH) of methacrylic acid (MAA) were mostly distributed on the surface of the composite polymer latex particles. Antibodies (anti‐human immunoglobulin G) were then chemically bound with COOH groups onto the surface of the magnetic core–shell composite latices through the medium of carbodiimide to form the antibody‐coated magnetic latices (magnetic immunolatices). The MAA shell composition of the composite latex could be adjusted to control the number of COOH groups and thus the number of antibody molecules on the magnetic composite latex particles. With a magnetic sorting device, the magnetic immunolatices derived from the magnetic PMMA/P(MMA–MAA) core–shell composite polymer latex performed well in cell‐separation experiments based on the antigen–antibody reaction. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1342–1356, 2005     

Surface morphology of polypyrrole core/polyacrolein shell latex by atomic force microscopy (AFM)

 Polypyrrole latex (P(P)), synthesized in Redox polymerization of pyrrole, was used as seed for radical polymerization of acrolein initiated with K₂S₂O₈. In this process the polypyrrole core/polyacrolein shell latex (P(P–A)) was obtained. Morphology of the surface of P(P–A) particles was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that macromolecules of polyacrolein are not randomly distributed on the surface of polypyrrole but form patches. Apparently, attraction between macromolecules of poly-acrolein in the surface layer is high and the enthalpy of formation of polyacrolein macromolecule clusters is sufficient to compensate, at least, the negative entropy change due to ordering of these macromolecules. Thickness of the polyacrolein layer on the surface of polypyrrole particles, which were covered only partially with polyacrolein, was equal to only 1.6 nm (standard deviation σ= 0.2 nm) and thus, it was reasonable to assume that it corresponded to the monolayer coverage. Received: 30 April 1997 Accepted: 25 August 1997     

单分散核／壳结构导电高分子复合材料的研究（Ⅰ）——单分散核／壳结构聚苯乙烯／聚吡咯的结构表征

导电高分子在光、电、磁等领域表现出的广泛应用前景 ,使它成为材料科学的研究热点 .然而 ,早期发现的导电高分子的不溶不熔性 ,使它在可加工性和机械性能等方面仍面临许多挑战 .核 /壳结构导电高分子与单分散技术的结合 ,无疑为这一领域的研究带来新的生机和活力 .目前仅有的少量文献主要集中报道微米和亚微米级单分散核 /壳导电高分子复合材料的研究 ,大多采用种子乳液聚合法合成 .微米级的种子乳液通常采用以醇为分散介质的分散聚合方法制备 [1～ 3] ,由于种子分散体系要经反复离心分离 ,除去醇类 ,重新分散在水相中再进行核 /壳导电高分…     

Reactive blends of thermoplastics and latex particles

Monodisperse homogeneous and core–shell latex particles of various sized between 200 and 600 nm were synthesized by emulsion copolymerization. Some of the core–shell particles were functionalized with epoxy groups at their peripheries upon introduction of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) during the synthesis. The core consisted of crosslinked polybutylacrylate and the shell polymethylmethacrylate. Synthesis conditions at high and low temperatures were optimized to obtain coreshell particles with a well-defined morphology. The particles were characterized by quasi-elastic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The latex particles functionalized with GMA were then dispersed into a reactive matrix (styrene and maleic anhydride copolymer) using a batch mixer to obtain blends with well-defined and stabilized morphology. 4 Dimethylaminopyridine was used as a catalyst. The reaction between the epoxy groups at the particle surface and the maleic anhydride or diacid groups of the matrix was evaluated by torque and extraction techniques. A small amount of conversion generates sufficient amounts of grafted species at the matrix and particle interfaces to ensure a good interfacial adhesion.     

Facile preparation of monodisperse hollow cross‐linked chitosan microspheres

We have successfully prepared biocompatible and biodegradable hollow microspheres using carboxyl‐functionalized polystyrene particles as core template and the chitosan cross‐linked with glutaraldehyde as the shell. The monodisperse carboxyl‐functionalized polystyrene particles were made by emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization. The structure, morphology, and constitution of the carboxyl‐functionalized polystyrene particles were characterized by FTIR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The structure, morphology, and formation process of the hollow cross‐linked chitosan microspheres were characterized by FTIR, SEM, and TEM. The results revealed that the latex particles were removed by exposed to solvent and the microspheres exhibited the hollow structure. This work confirmed that the hollow microspheres were accomplished by fabricating on the basis of chemical cross‐linking on the surface of the carboxyl‐functionalized polystyrene particles and then removing off the cores of particles. Moreover, with the increase of carboxyl‐functionalization degree at the surface of latexes and the increase of cross‐linking period, the thicker and firmer monodisperse hollow microspheres were obtained. In addition, a water‐soluble drug, salicylic acid, encapsulated in the microcapsules slowly released at pH 1.2. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 228–237, 2008     

Fe3O4/Polypyrrole/Au nanocomposites with core/shell/shell structure: synthesis, characterization, and their electrochemical properties

Uniform Fe3O4 nanospheres with a diameter of 100 nm were rapidly prepared using a microwave solvothermal method. Then Fe304/polypyrrole (PPy) composite nanospheres with well-defined core/shell structures were obtained through chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole in the presence of Fe3O4; the average thickness of the coating shell was about 25 nm. Furthermore, by means of electrostatic interactions, plentiful gold nanoparticles with a diameter of 15 nm were assembled on the surface of Fe3O4/PPy to get Fe3O4/PPy/Au core/shell/shell structure. The morphology, structure, and composition of the products were characterized by transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The resultant nanocomposites not only have the magnetism of Fe3O4 nanoparticles that make the nanocomposites easily controlled by an external magnetic field but also have the good conductivity and excellent electrochemical and catalytic properties of PPy and Au nanoparticles. Furthermore, the nanocomposites showed excellent electrocatalytic activities to biospecies such as ascorbic acid (AA).     

Polypyrrole-coated natural rubber latex by admicellar polymerization

Admicellar polymerization has been used for the preparation of an electrically conductive polypyrrole coating on latex particles. An anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), was adsorbed onto natural rubber (NR) latex particles to form the surfactant bilayers after adjusting the pH below the point of zero charge of the latex surface. Adsorption of SDS and pyrrole adsolubilization were determined as a function of pyrrole and sodium chloride concentrations. Pyrrole caused a decrease in SDS adsorption at equilibrium. Sodium chloride increased the surfactant adsorption and the pyrrole adsolubilization. Thermogravimetric results showed the presence of polypyrrole. The conductivity of the polypyrrole-coated NR latex film prepared by admicellar polymerization without salt was the lowest; however, with salt addition, the conductivity of the film improved significantly. The oxidative polymerization technique resulted in a relatively higher conductivity than oxidative admicellar polymerization.     

Polar Gradient Latex Particles with Hydrophilic Core and Hydrophobic Shell Prepared via Multistep Emulsion Polymerization

Monodisperse polar gradient particles were synthesized via a three‐step emulsion polymerization using poly(butyl acrylate‐methyl methacrylate‐methacrylic acid‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (P(BA‐MMA‐MAA‐EGDMA)) as core, poly(methyl methacrylate‐methacrylic acid‐styrene) (P(St‐MMA‐MAA)) as interlayer and polystyrene (PSt) as shell. The particle growth and encapsulation in each emulsion polymerization step were followed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and conductometric titration. Results indicated that the feeding mode and the interlayer were essential to prepare the polar gradient latex particles with hydrophilic core and hydrophobic shell. The morphologies of the two‐layer core/interlayer and three‐layer core/interlayer/shell particles were observed in TEM micrographs, and the sequential encapsulations of the carboxyl‐containing core and the core/interlayer particles were confirmed by an increase in the particle size as well as an increase in the buried carboxyl percentage.     

Grafting of amino functional monomer onto initiator-modified polystyrene particles

Polystyrene nanoparticles with grafted chains of an amino functionalized polymer were prepared by a two-step polymerization process. In the first step, the polystyrene seed particles were synthesized by the conventional batch emulsion polymerization using terpolymer HAS (hydroperoxide monomer, acrylic acid, and styrene) as a surface-active initiator. The surface of the obtained particles contains carboxyl groups, which are responsible for the latex stability, and residual undecomposed hydroperoxide groups. Therefore, in the second step, an amino functional monomer was grafted onto the hydroperoxide modified polystyrene particles by a "grafting from" approach. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, NMR, and scanning electron microscopy were used to examine the surface of the amino functionalized particles. The amount of incorporated amino groups onto the particles was determined by fluorescenometric titration. In general, the number of amino groups on the particle surface increased with the increase of the functional monomer content in the reaction mixture. The incorporation of the functional monomer was also confirmed by electrophoretic measurements. Final particles possess amphoteric character due to the presence of amino and carboxyl groups on the surface. Adsorption of human immunoglobulins G onto the amino functionalized particles was studied as a function of pH and ionic strength. The covalent binding of human IgG was performed using the glutaraldehyde preactivation method. The immunoreactivity of the latex-IgG complex was examined by the latex agglutination test.