Functionalization of Polymer Microspheres Using Click Chemistry

Abstract

We describe a new method to covalently link a wide variety of molecules to the surface of colloidal polymer microspheres using the Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne reaction, most commonly known under the class of reactions identified by the term click chemistry. The method is generic and readily applied to a spectrum of colloidal particle systems allowing surfaces to be tailored with virtually any desired functionality. To demonstrate this method, polystyrene microspheres were functionalized with two different polyethylene oxide-based polymers, and changes in hydrodynamic radii after functionalization were measured using dynamic light scattering. Control of surface functional groups was demonstrated by fluorescently labeling the colloidal microspheres using the same Cu-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction.

Porous polymer particles—A comprehensive guide to synthesis, characterization, functionalization and applications

“…Although there are numerous studies on CuAAC functionalization of nonporous polymers [280,298,328,[336][337][338][339][340][341][342][343][344][345][346][347][348][349][350][351], silica [352][353][354] and metal particles [355], the amount of publications on porous polymer particles is limited. Finn et al [356] described the click functionalization of a commercial porous agarose resin for affinity chromatography.…”

Fluorogenic click reaction

“…A similar strategy has been used to detect the surface azido groups of polyethylene oxide-based microspheres with 7-ethynylcoumarin. 43 O'Reilly and coworkers used the fluorogenic CuAAC reaction to validate the presence of a Cu-terpyridin complex in a nanoparticle. Nitroxide mediated polymerization was used for the copolymerization of a terpyridine functionalized styrene monomer.…”

A Click Fluorophore Sensor that Can Distinguish CuII and HgII via Selective Anion‐Induced Demetallation

“…Toluenesulfonic acid-2-azidoethyl ester, [25] 7-ethynyl-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one [26] and tri-Boc-protected cyclam 4 [27] were prepared according to literature procedures.…”