Biomimetic synthesis of raspberry-like hybrid polymer–silica core–shell nanoparticles by templating colloidal particles with hairy polyamine shell

The nanoparticles composed of polystyrene core and poly[2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDEA) hairy shell were used as colloidal templates for in situ silica mineralization, allowing the well-controlled synthesis of hybrid silica core–shell nanoparticles with raspberry-like morphology and hollow silica nanoparticles by subsequent calcination. Silica deposition was performed by simply stirring a mixture of the polymeric core–shell particles in isopropanol, tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) and water at 25 °C for 2.5 h. No experimental evidence was found for nontemplated silica formation, which indicated that silica deposition occurred exclusively in the PDEA shell and formed PDEA–silica hybrid shell. The resulting hybrid silica core–shell particles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetry, aqueous electrophoresis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. TEM studies indicated that the hybrid particles have well-defined core–shell structure with raspberry morphology after silica deposition. We found that the surface nanostructure of hybrid nanoparticles and the composition distribution of PDEA–silica hybrid shell could be well controlled by adjusting the silicification conditions. These new hybrid core–shell nanoparticles and hollow silica nanoparticles would have potential applications for high-performance coatings, encapsulation and delivery of active organic molecules.     

Temperature- and pH-triggered reversible transfer of doubly responsive hairy particles between water and a hydrophobic ionic liquid

This article reports on the synthesis of thermo- and pH-sensitive polymer-brush-grafted silica particles ("hairy" particles) and the study of their phase-transfer behavior between water and a hydrophobic ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([EMIM][TFSA]), in response to temperature and pH changes. The hairy particles were made by the surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of methoxytri(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (TEGMMA) and tert-butyl methacrylate with a molar ratio of 100:11 in the presence of a free initiator and the subsequent removal of tert-butyl groups. The cloud points (CPs) of poly(TEGMMA-co-methacrylic acid), obtained after the treatment of the free polymer with trifluoroacetic acid, in both water and [EMIM][TFSA]-saturated water increased with the increase in pH and can be tuned over a wide temperature range. The hairy particles moved spontaneously from the aqueous phase to the [EMIM][TFSA] phase upon heating at 80 °C and returned to the aqueous layer upon cooling at 10 °C. This process can be repeated many times regardless of whether the pH of the aqueous phase is 2.99, 5.00, or 7.02. UV-vis absorbance measurements showed that the transfer temperature (T(tr)) of hairy particles from water to [EMIM][TFSA] increased with the increase in the pH of the aqueous phase. A linear relationship was observed between the T(tr) of hairy particles and the CP of the corresponding free polymer. By taking advantage of the tunability of the T(tr) of hairy particles, we demonstrated the pH-driven reversible transfer of hairy particles at a fixed temperature by changing the pH of the aqueous phase and multiple phase-transfer processes by controlling both the temperature and pH.     

Thermosensitive water-dispersible hairy particle-supported pd nanoparticles for catalysis of hydrogenation in an aqueous/organic biphasic system

We report in this article the use of thermosensitive water-dispersible polymer brush-grafted polymeric particles as carriers for Pd nanoparticles for the catalysis of hydrogenation of styrene in an aqueous/organic biphasic system. Thermoresponsive poly(methoxytri(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) brushes were grown from initiator-functionalized core-shell cross-linked poly( t-butyl acrylate) (P tBA) particles via surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization. The t-butyl group of P tBA in the core was removed with trifluoroacetic acid, followed by loading of Pd2+ cations through ion exchange. Pd nanoparticles were prepared by reduction of Pd2+ ions with ethanol at 70 degrees C. Dynamic light scattering studies showed that the Pd nanoparticle-loaded thermosensitive hairy particles in water began to shrink when the temperature was above 30 degrees C. The supported Pd nanoparticles efficiently catalyzed hydrogenation of styrene in an aqueous/octane biphasic system and were reused five times with no changes in the yields in the first three cycles and slight decreases in the fourth and fifth cycles after the same period of time. Kinetics studies showed that the catalytic activity of Pd nanoparticles was modulated by the phase transition of the thermosensitive brush layer, resulting in a non-Arrhenius dependence of apparent initial rate constant, k app, on temperature.     

Spontaneous phase transfer of thermosensitive hairy particles between water and an ionic liquid

This article describes the temperature-induced phase transfer behavior of a series of thermosensitive polymer brush-grafted particles between water and a hydrophobic ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMIM][TFSI]). Six samples were made by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization: silica particles grafted with poly(methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (PPEGMMA) with two different molecular weights, poly(methoxytri(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (PTEGMMA), poly(methoxydi(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (PDEGMMA), and two copolymers of PEGMMA and TEGMMA with different compositions (P(PEGMMA-co-TEGMMA)-82 and P(PEGMMA-co-TEGMMA)-74). The cloud points of free PPEGMMA with M(n,SEC) of 23 and 40 kDa, P(PEGMMA-co-TEGMMA)-82, P(PEGMMA-co-TEGMMA)-74, and PTEGMMA in [EMIM][TFSI]-saturated water were 95, 94, 80, 72, and 43 °C, respectively. PDEGMMA was not soluble in the ionic liquid-saturated water. PPEGMMA brush-grafted particles moved spontaneously and completely from water to the [EMIM][TFSI] phase upon heating at 80 °C. When cooled to 22 °C, all particles returned to the water layer. From UV-vis absorbance measurements, the transfer temperature (T(tr)) of PPEGMMA-grafted particles from water to the ionic liquid was 42 °C. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the particle transfer was an entropically driven process. P(PEGMMA-co-TEGMMA)-82, P(PEGMMA-co-TEGMMA)-74, and PTEGMMA brush-grafted particles also underwent reversible and quantitative transfer between the two phases upon heating at 70 °C and cooling at 0 °C; their transfer temperatures from water to [EMIM][TFSI] were 36, 30, and 16 °C, respectively. T(tr) was a linear function of the cloud point of the corresponding free polymer in ionic liquid-saturated water. In contrast, PDEGMMA-grafted particles moved spontaneously to the ionic liquid layer upon heating but did not return to water even after prolonged stirring at 0 °C.     

Thermosensitive hairy hybrid nanoparticles synthesized by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization

This article reports on the synthesis of thermosensitive polymer brushes on silica nanoparticles by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and the study of thermo-induced phase transitions in water. Silica nanoparticles were prepared by the St?ber process and the surface was functionalized by an ATRP initiator. Surface-initiated ATRPs of methoxydi(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (DEGMMA) and methoxytri(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (TEGMMA) were carried out in THF at 40 degrees C in the presence of a free initiator, benzyl 2-bromoisobutyrate. The polymerizations were monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. The hairy hybrid nanoparticles were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy, and the thermoresponsive properties were investigated by variable temperature 1H NMR spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. The cloud points of free poly(DEGMMA) and poly(TEGMMA) in water were around 25 and 48 degrees C, respectively. The thermo-induced phase transitions of polymer brushes on silica nanoparticles began at a lower temperature and continued over a broader range (4-10 degrees C) than those of free polymers in water (< 2 degrees C).     

Low-temperature liquid–liquid extraction of phenols from aqueous solutions with hydrophilic mixtures of extractants

The volume ratios in acetonitrile–ethyl acetate (90 : 10, 95 : 5), acetonitrile–isopropanol–ethyl acetate (70 : 15 : 15, 80 : 5 : 15), and isopropanol–1-butanol (50 : 50) mixtures were determined. Their mixing with water (1 : 1) and storage at–10°C led to partitioning into two immiscible liquid phases without formation of the ice phase. The mixtures were shown to be useful as hydrophilic extractants in low-temperature liquidliquid extraction of phenol from aqueous solutions.     

Modification of gold nanoparticle composite nanostructures using thermosensitive core-shell particles as a template

We report the formation of novel thermosensitive hybrid core-shell particles via in situ synthesis of gold nanoparticles using thermosensitive core-shell particles as a template. The template core-shell particles, with cores composed mainly of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (GMA) and shells composed mainly of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), were synthesized in aqueous medium, and functional groups such as thiol groups were incorporated into each particle. We found that these particles containing thiol groups were effective for the in situ synthesis of gold nanoparticles in long-term storage. The obtained hybrid particles exhibited a reversible color change from red to purple, which originated from the surface plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles and which was temperature-dependent in the range of 25-40 degrees C. In addition to their thermosensitive property, the hybrid particles exhibited the unique characteristic of uniform distribution on a solid substrate. The particles obtained by this approach have potential thermosensitive applications such as in sensors and photonic or electronic devices.     

Determination of uracil in 5-fluorouracil substance by high-performance liquid chromatography

Separation of 5-fluorouracil and uracil in chromatographic systems consisting of a silica column as a stationary phase and ethyl acetate or ethyl acetate partially saturated with water as a mobile phase has been studied. The results indicated that when saturation of ethyl acetate with water was chosen to reach more than 60%, such mobile phases [e.g., 2.4% (v/v) water in ethyl acetate] are useful in determining uracil in 5-fluorouracil substances.     

Thermosensitive polymer brush‐supported 4‐N,N‐dialkylaminopyridine on silica particles as catalyst for hydrolysis of an activated ester in aqueous buffers: Comparison of activity with linear polymer‐supported version and effect of LCST transition

We report on the synthesis of a thermosensitive polymer brush‐supported 4‐N,N‐dialkylaminopyridine catalyst and the comparison of its catalytic activity with the corresponding linear polymer‐supported version in the hydrolysis of p‐nitrophenyl acetate (NPA) as well as the effect of lower critical solution temperature (LCST) transition on catalytic activity. The polymer brushes were synthesized from initiator‐functionalized silica particles by surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of methoxytri(ethylene glycol) methacrylate and 2‐(N‐methyl‐N‐(4‐pyridyl)amino)ethyl methacrylate in the presence of a free initiator. Dynamic light scattering studies showed that the onset temperatures of the LCST transition of polymer brushes in pH 7.52 and 7.82 buffers were 42 and 38 °C, respectively. Under the same reaction conditions, the net initial rate of the hydrolysis of NPA catalyzed by hairy particles was 70–80% of that catalyzed by the free copolymer at the temperature below the LCST of polymer brushes. With further increasing the temperature above the LCST, the plot of logarithm of net initial rate versus inverse temperature exhibited a shift for the reactions catalyzed by hairy particles and leveled off or decreased slightly in the case of using the free copolymer as catalyst, presumably because the structures of the aggregates of hairy particles and free copolymer chains were different. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2853–2870, 2009     

Biomimetic deposition of silica templated by a cationic polyamine-containing microgel

We report using poly(acrylamide-co-2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate, methyl chloride quaternized) cationic microgels as a porous colloidal template for biomimetic in situ silica mineralization, allowing the well-controlled synthesis of submicrometer-sized hybrid microgel--silica particles and porous silica particles by subsequent calcination. The microgels were prepared by inverse emulsion polymerization in the presence of a bisacrylamide cross-linker. Silica deposition was achieved by simply stirring an aqueous mixture of the microgel particles and tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) at 20 degrees C for 30 min. No experimental evidence was found for nontemplated silica, which indicated that silica deposition occurred exclusively within the cationic microgel template particles. The resulting microgel-silica hybrid particles were characterized by electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, FT-IR spectroscopy, 1H NMR and solid-state 29Si magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, aqueous electrophoresis, and surface area measurements. Aqueous electrophoresis studies confirmed that the hybrid microgel-silica particles had positive zeta potentials over a wide pH range and isoelectric points could be tuned by varying the synthesis conditions. This suggests that these particles could form complexes with DNA for improved gene delivery. The porosity of the calcined silica particles could be controlled by varying the amount of TMOS, suggesting potential encapsulation/controlled release applications.     

Direct formation of thermally stabilized amorphous mesoporous Fe2O3/SiO2 nanocomposites by hydrolysis of aqueous iron III nitrate in sols of spherical silica particles

Nanocomposite materials containing 10% and 20% iron oxide/silica, Fe2O3/SiO2 (w/w), were prepared by direct hydrolysis of aqueous iron III nitrate solution in sols of freshly prepared spherical silica particles (St?ber particles) present in their mother liquors. This was followed by aging, drying, calcination up to 600 degrees C through two different ramp rates, and then isothermal calcinations at 600 degrees C for 3 h. The calcined and the uncalcined (dried at 120 degrees C) composites were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption/desorption techniques, and scanning electron microscopy as required. XRD patterns of the calcined composites showed no line broadening at any d-spacing positions of iron oxide phases, thereby reflecting the amorphous nature of Fe2O3 in the composite. The calcined composites showed nitrogen adsorption isotherms characterizing type IV isotherms with high surface area. Moreover, surface area increased with the increasing of the iron oxide ratio and lowering of the calcination ramp rate. Results indicated that iron oxide particles were dispersed on the exterior of silica particles as isolated and/or aggregated nanoparticles. The formation of the title composite was discussed in terms of the hydrolysis and condensation mechanisms of the inorganic FeIII precursor in the silica sols. Thereby, fast nucleation and limited growth of hydrous iron oxide led to the formation of nanoparticles that spread interactively on the hydroxylated surface of spherical silica particles. Therefore, a nanostructured composite of amorphous nanoparticles of iron oxide (as a shell) spreading on the surface of silica particles (as a core) was formed. This morphology limited the aggregation of Fe2O3 nanoparticles, prevented silica particle coalescence at high temperatures, and enhanced thermal stability.     

The use of a thermally reversible bond for molecular imprinting of silica spheres

A silica monomer-estrone complex (EstSi) having a thermally cleavable urethane bond and a cross-linkable triethoxysilane group was synthesized. From EstSi and TEOS, spherical silica particles with sizes of 1.5-3 mum were prepared. The template molecules were removed from the silica matrix by heating at 180 degrees C in DMSO in the presence of water, generating a cavity with an amino group. The control silica particles that had the same sizes and shapes were obtained with aminopropyl triethoxysilane and TEOS. When ethylene glycol was added in place of H2O, an ethyl alcoholic group was formed in the cavity. Their recognition ability and specific binding for estrone were characterized by uptake experiments. The estrone-imprinted silica particles showed a much higher recognition ability than the control silica particles and higher selectivity for estrone than testosterone propionate.     

Preparation of primary amine-based block copolymer vesicles by direct dissolution in water and subsequent stabilization by sol-gel chemistry

A new amphiphilic biocompatible diblock copolymer, poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-block-poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate), PCL-b-PAMA, was synthesized in three steps by (i) ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone, (ii) end-group modification by esterification, and (iii) atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 2-aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride (AMA) in its hydrochloride salt form. This copolymer forms block copolymer vesicles with the hydrophobic PCL block forming the vesicle membrane. Unusually, these vesicles are easily prepared by direct dissolution in water without using organic co-solvents, pH adjustment, or even stirring. These vesicles can be stabilized by aqueous sol-gel chemistry using tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) as the silica precursor. It is well-known that cationic polymers can catalyze silica formation, but in this particular case, it seems that the TMOS precursor is solubilized within the hydrophobic PCL membrane. Thus, the neutral membrane actually directs silica formation, rather than the cationic PAMA chains. The final vesicle morphology and the silica content depend on the silicification conditions. Provided that the TMOS/AMA molar ratio does not exceed 10:1, silicification is solely confined within the PCL membrane. At higher ratios, silica nanoparticles (5-12 nm) are also observed on the outer surface of the silicified vesicles. However, these nanoparticles appear to be only weakly adsorbed, since they can be easily removed by dialysis. The mean hydrodynamic diameter of the silicified vesicles varies from 175 to 205 nm with solution pH due to (de)protonation of the externally expressed PAMA chains. Calcination of the silicified vesicles at 800 degrees C leads to the formation of hollow silica particles. 1H NMR, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), aqueous electrophoresis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed to characterize the vesicles, both before and after silicification.     

Enzymes in the cavity of hollow silica nanoparticles

Due to limitations of the existing preparative methods of hollow nanoparticles by either heating at high temperature (>600 degrees C) or by using strong acid, alkali, or an organic solvent, it was not possible up till now to encapsulate any sensitive organic molecule like enzyme or others inside the cavity of hollow nanoparticles. We have demonstrated a much softer method of preparing hollow silica nanoparticles with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) inside the cavity by synthesizing HRP-doped core-shell silica-coated silver chloride nanoparticles and finally leaching out silver chloride with dilute ammonia at low temperatures. TEM pictures showed the hollow cavity inside the nanoparticles. The enzyme entrapped in these particles was active. The turnover number of HRP entrapped into these hollow particles and dispersed in aqueous buffer (pH 7.2) (k(cat) = 2.56 x 10(6) s(-1)) was found to be less than that of free enzyme in aqueous buffer (k(cat) = 6.133 x 10(7) s(-1)) but higher than that of HRP entrapped in solid-core silica nanoparticles and dispersed in aqueous buffer (k(cat) = 1.05 x 10(5) s(-1)). The result showed that hollow nanoparticles could be prepared using soft chemical methods and sensitive chemicals like active enzyme could be entrapped in the cavities and it retains its activity.     

The effect of modifier concentration on the stability of emulsions and foams stabilized with colloidal silica particles

The stability of emulsions and foams stabilized with hexylamine-modified silica particles has been studied as depending on the concentration of the surfactant. Silica modification with short-chain hexylamine leads to a marked increase in the contact angle upon selective wetting and inversion of the phases in the emulsions. The contact angles upon wetting silica surface by aqueous phases are no larger than 60°, while the maximum stability of foams corresponds to contact angles of 38°–50° depending on the concentration of the solid particles.     

Electron spin resonance studies of spin-labelled polymers—18: Adsorption of spin-labelled poly(vinyl acetate) on silica surfaces

The adsorption of spin-labelled poly(vinyl acetate) from dilute solutions in ethyl acetate, chloroform and toluene onto three silica adsorbents of different surface silanol contents was studied. The adsorption capacities of the three silica samples, which decreased with decreasing surface silanol content, were dependent on the nature of the solvent, being greatest in the poor solvent toluene and least in the good solvent ethyl acetate. The ESR spectra of the polymer adsorbed on the silica of highest silanol content suggested that the polymer had a relatively flat conformation when toluene or chloroform was solvent and a more looped conformation when ethyl acetate was solvent. With the silica of intermediate silanol content, the polymer adsorbed from chloroform solution also had a loopy conformation. The silica of lowest silanol content was prepared by treating the first silica absorbent with trimethylchlorosilane. The line-shapes in the ESR spectrum of the labelled polymer adsorbed on this modified silica indicated a change in mode of adsorption.     

Supercritical ethanol--a fascinating dispersion medium for silica nanoparticles

For the first time, the dispersion stability of silica nanoparticles has been investigated in high-temperature and high-pressure ethanol by measuring the hydrodynamic diffusion coefficient of the particles by means of dynamic light scattering. The silica nanoparticles remain stable in ethanol within a wide temperature range of 24-304 degrees C at 12.3 MPa, and they start to aggregate at T >or= 305 degrees C. Numerical analysis reveals that the net interparticle repulsive potential barrier decreases dramatically with increasing temperature due to the changes in the properties of the medium. We observed that particles remain highly stable in the nonpolar supercritical ethanol in the temperature regime 241-304 degrees C, where the DLVO potential barrier is only 5-2 k(B)T. The dispersion stability of silica nanoparticles at this low potential barrier in high-temperature and high-pressure ethanol, especially in the supercritical ethanol, is fascinating. The silica-ethanol system might be a unique and special example in the colloidal dispersions. Results suggest that silica nanoparticles may be used as a model colloid to investigate the colloidal transport phenomena in the supercritical ethanol.     

Preparation of sub-micrometer silica shells using poly(1-methylpyrrol-2-ylsquaraine)

Poly(1-methylpyrrol-2-ylsquaraine) precipitates from reaction solution as uniformly spherical particles with a diameter of 1.3 microm. Upon heating, the particles reduce in diameter until extinction at approximately 630 degrees C. Treatment of the particles with 9:1 tetraethoxysilane:ethanol solution, and subsequent hydrolysis in dilute acid, results in a polymer core-silica shell structure. Removal of the core, upon heating to 660 degrees C, results in an amorphous silica shell with a diameter half that of the initial template sphere. It has been found that the silica shells produced by this method are able to encapsulate organic dyes upon soaking of the shells in chloroform solutions of the dyes, and further washings with fresh chloroform did not remove the dyes. The production of crystalline titanium dioxide shells was also achieved through the use of the polysquaraine particles as a spherical template.     

Hydrophobic, organically dispersible gold nanoparticles of variable shape produced by the spontaneous reduction of aqueous chloroaurate ions by hexadecylaniline molecules

In addition to control over the size and monodispersity of nanoparticle, nanomaterial synthesis procedures are increasingly required to control their shape and assembly as well. We demonstrate in this paper synthesis of organically dispersible, hydrophobic gold nanoparticles of spherical shape and encased in triangular thin polyaniline shells by doing reaction under static conditions and assembly of these particles onto polymer nanorod/nanowire-like templates by varying the molar ratio of chloroaurate ions to hexadecylaniline and varying the solvent by the spontaneous reduction of aqueous chloroaurate ions by hexadecylaniline molecules in a biphasic reaction setup. Under stationary conditions (no stirring), a biphasic mixture of hexadecylaniline in toluene and chloroaurate ions in water leads to the electrostatic complexation of chloroaurate ions with hexadecylaniline at the liquid-liquid interface and their phase transfer into the organic phase, followed by their reduction by the hexadecylaniline molecules. By varying the conditions, the templating action of gold nanoparticles or the polyaniline nanodispersions can be tuned in the organic medium and resulting assembly.     

Synthesis of poly-L-glutamic acid grafted silica nanoparticles and their assembly into macroporous structures

Polypeptide-coated silica nanoparticles represent an interesting class of organic-inorganic hybrids since the ordered secondary structure of the polypeptide grafts imparts functional properties to these nanoparticles. The synthesis of a poly-l-glutamic acid (PLGA) silica nanoparticle hybrid by employing N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) polymerization to synthesize the polypeptide chains and Cu catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition reaction to graft these chains onto the silica surface is reported. This methodology enables the synthesis of well-defined polypeptide chains that are attached onto the silica surface at high surface densities. The PLGA-silica conjugate particles are well dispersed in water, and have been thoroughly characterized using multinuclear ((13)C, (29)Si) solid state NMR, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. The pH-dependent reversible aggregation of the PLGA-silica particles, driven by the change in PLGA structure, has also been studied. Preliminary results on the use of aqueous dispersions of silica-PLGA for the preparation of three-dimensional macroporous structures with oriented pores by ice templating methodology are also demonstrated. These macroporous materials, comprising a biocompatible polymer shell covalently attached to rigid inorganic cores, adopts an interesting lamellar structure with fishbone-type architecture.