Functionalization of polymer nanoparticles formed by microemulsion RAFT-mediatedpolymerization
Résumé
Polymer nanoparticles were prepared via a microemulsion RAFT polymerization using a xanthate chain transfer agent. The xanthate moiety at the polymer chain-end preferentially resides at the polymer/water interface. This allows not only the formation of block copolymers to be synthesized in water but also further functionalization of the nanoparticle surface with other macromolecules. The synthesis of polystyrene latex nanoparticles by xanthate-mediated microemulsion polymerization is described. The resulting nanoparticles had an average hydrodynamic diameter of 25 nm and a narrow particle size distribution, with PNIPAM being bound to the surface. Our novel method of functionalized polymer nanoparticles can be used for the coupling of important biomacromolecules.