Synthesis and characterization of surface-cyanofunctionalized poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) latexes

 A series of P[N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM)] latexes with different contents of cyano groups were successfully prepared by either seeded or shot-growth polymerizations of an aqueous solution containing acrylonitrile (AN) onto a seed P[NIPAM] latex, respectively, and further characterized by FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, elemental analysis, as well as by quasielastic light scattering (QELS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All prepared surface-cyanofunctionalized P[NIPAM] latexes exhibited the same range of lower critical solution temperature (LCST) as a pure P[NIPAM] latex. The shot polymerization process proved more efficient at yielding cyano derivatized latexes than the seeded polymerization technique. The amount of incorporated cyano groups onto the particles was determined with a good correlation both by ¹H-NMR and elemental analysis. The higher the amount of initially introduced AN monomer in the reaction mixture, the more cyano groups were incorporated onto the particles. The surface of the particles with high content of cyano groups appeared quite rough by SEM in comparison with that of the pure P[NIPAM] particles. Received: 25 February 1998 Accepted: 23 June 1998     

Hydrophilic magnetic polymer latexes. 1. Adsorption of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles onto various cationic latexes

With a view to preparing monosized hydrophilic functional magnetic latex particles based on a two-step strategy using anionic iron oxide and cationic polymer latexes, the adsorption step was systematically investigated for a better control of the subsequent encapsulation step. The iron oxide nanoparticles were first obtained according to the classical precipitation method of ferric and ferrous chloride salt using a concentrated sodium hydroxide solution, whereas the polystyrene (PS), P(S/N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM)) core–shell and PNIPAM latexes were produced via emulsion and precipitation polymerizations, respectively. The polymer and inorganic colloids were then characterised. The adsorption of iron oxide nanoparticles onto the three types of polymer latexes via electrostatic interaction was studied as a function of iron oxide particle concentration, charge density and the cross-linking density of the hydrophilic layer. The maximum amounts of magnetic nanoparticles adsorbed onto the various latexes were found to increase in the following order: PS < P(S/NIPAM) < P(NIPAM). This significant difference is discussed by taking into account the charge distribution in the hydrogel layer and diffusion phenomena inside the cross-linked hydrophilic shell. Received: 28 December 1998 Accepted in revised form: 15 April 1999     

Electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power of liquid selenium doped with thallium and indium

The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power of liquid selenium with thallium and indium additives have been studied. Large variations appear in the electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power, where Tl and In additives favourp-type conduction.     

Adsorption of Bovine Serum Albumin onto Polystyrene Latex Particles Bearing Saccharidic Moieties

The adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) onto polystyrene latexes bearing various amounts of sugar moieties has been investigated as a function of pH and ionic strength and the results were compared to those for bare polystyrene latexes having negative surface charges. The functionalized latexes were produced by seeded copolymerization of (0.3 μm) liposaccharidic monomer onto polystyrene particles obtained by soap-free emulsion polymerization of styrene using potassium persulfate as initiator. At first, the electrophoretic mobility behavior of the various latexes was examined as a function of pH: a significant decrease was observed in the case of saccharide-containing latex particles compared to the bare particles. The adsorption of BSA onto these latexes exhibited a reduced amount of adsorbed BSA for those latex particles bearing saccharide groups. This adsorbed amount depends on the yield of saccharidic monomer incorporated onto the surfaces of the latex particles.     

Hydrophilic magnetic polymer latexes. 2. Encapsulation of adsorbed iron oxide nanoparticles

The encapsulation of seed polymer particles coated by anionic iron oxide nanoparticles has been investigated using N-isopropylacrylamide as a main monomer, N,N-methylene bisacrylamide as a crosslinking agent, itaconic acid as a functional monomer and potassium persulfate as an anionic initiator. The magnetic latexes obtained have been characterized with regard to particle size, iron oxide content and electrophoretic mobility. All these properties have been examined by varying several polymerization parameters: reaction medium, monomer(s) and crosslinking agent concentrations, nature of seed latexes and type of polymerization (batch versus shot process). The magnetic content in the polymer microspheres strongly depends on the polymerization procedure (i.e., encapsulation process) and varies between 6 and 23 wt%, and monodisperse magnetic polymer particles were obtained. Received: 28 December 1999 Accepted in revised form: 15 June 1999     

Composition and structure of iron oxidation surface layers produced in weak acidic solutions

Although oxidation/passivation of iron in basic solution has been extensively investigated, there is very little information on iron corrosion in weak acidic solutions. In this work, iron surface composition and structure, produced in aerobic aqueous solutions ranging from pH 2 to 5, were determined in detail by the use of infrared external reflection spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The most striking observation is that at pH 2 and 3 almost all oxidized iron is dissolved in solution, whereas at pH 4 and 5 the product of iron oxidation is deposited on the iron surface in the form of lepidocrocite, gamma-FeOOH. Detailed iron surface and solution analyses allow the proposition of the following overall oxidation reactions: [EQUATION: SEE TEXT]. At pH 2 and 3, only a very thin surface layer consisting of FeO and Fe(OH)2 with polymeric structure is observed on the iron surface. The amounts of these surface species remain almost constant (2-5 nm) from the first minutes to a few hours of reaction, if pH is kept constant. Nevertheless, with time the akaganeite-like, beta-FeOOH structure is also detected. At pH 4 and 5, the amount of lepidocrocite deposited on the iron surface increases with reaction time. Detailed quantitative evaluation of the lepidocrocite produced at pH 5 and its surface distribution on iron was performed based on the comparison of infrared spectroscopic data with spectral simulation results of assumed surface structures. At pH 4 and 5 and a temperature of 40-50 degrees C, in addition to a very large amount of lepidocrocite other oxy-hydroxide surface species such as goethite (alpha-FeOOH) and feroxyhite (delta-FeOOH), were identified. Addition of Cl- ions to solution at 10(-3) M concentration at pH 5 increases the oxidation rate of iron by about 50%, and lepidocrocite remains the only oxidation product. Similarly, an addition of Fe2+ ions to solution at pH 5 very strongly enhances lepidocrocite formation as well as its conductivity. The latter finding is important for the possible application of metallic iron as a catalyst in redox reactions, for example, for decomposition of difficult-to-biodegrade water pollutants.     

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     

Effect of thiol-containing monomer on the preparation of temperature-sensitive hydrogel microspheres

The main objective of this study is to prepare, thermally, sensitive microgel particles bearing thiol groups via precipitation polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) and vinylbenzylisothiouronium chloride (VBIC) using 2-2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane)-dihydrochloride (V50) as initiator. The influence of various parameters has been investigated as a systematic study to point out the role of each reactant on polymerization conversion, and consequently, on particles and water-soluble polymer formation. The final microgel particles were characterized with respect to particle size and swelling ability. The aim of this paper is to complete our first short communication; Macromolecular symposia, 2000. 150: p. 283–290.     

Physicochemical characterization of nicergoline and cabergoline in its amorphous state

Formulation of poorly water-soluble crystalline drugs into their more soluble amorphous form is a common approach for improving their bioavailability. In this study, the amorphous forms of nicergoline (NIC) and cabergoline (CAB) were obtained by different methods (melting and precipitation under solvent evaporation). The physicochemical characteristics of the samples were determined by HPLC, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry, and X-ray powder diffractometry. The physical stability of the amorphous forms was investigated by DSC by considering how the onset temperature and the enthalpy content at the glass transition vary with aging time and temperature. Using the Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts equation on the data obtained from the experiments, the “mean molecular relaxation time constant” (τ) was estimated. This parameter was used to understand the stability of NIC and CAB in their glassy state at different temperatures, and results showed that their stability is adequate to enable the formulation of these drugs into solid dosage forms.     

Salt Effects in the Cononsolvency of Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) Microgels

Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) is well known to exhibit reentrant behavior or cononsolvency in response to the composition of a mixed solvent consisting of water and a low‐chain alcohol. Since the solvent structure plays an important role in this phenomenon, the presence of structure‐breaking/structure‐making ions in solution is expected to have a dramatic effect on the cononsolvency of PNIPAM. The present work examines the way that the presence of different salts can modify the reentrant‐phase diagram displayed by a cationic PNIPAM microgel in the mixed ethanol/water solvent. The effects of four Hofmeister anions—SO₄^2?_, Cl^?, NO₃^? and SCN^?—with different abilities to modify the solvent structure are analyzed. The species with kosmotropic or structure‐making character show a clear competition with ethanol for the water molecules, intensifying the nonsolvency of the PNIPAM with the EtOH volume fraction (?_e). However, striking results are found with the most chaotropic or structure‐breaking anion, SCN^?. In contrast to what happens in water‐rich solutions, the presence of SCN^? in alcohol‐rich solvents enhances the solubility of the polymer, which macroscopically results in the microgel swelling. Moreover, this ion displays great stabilizing properties when ?_e> is 0.2. These results have been explained by considering how chaotropic or structure‐breaking ions interact with water and ethanol molecules.