Morphology evolution of Janus dumbbell nanoparticles in seeded emulsion polymerization

Abstract

Emulsion polymerization is a versatile approach to produce different polymeric nanoparticle morphologies, which can be useful in a variety of applications. However, the detailed mechanism of the morphology formation is not entirely clear. We study the kinetics of nanoparticle morphology evolution during a seeded emulsion polymerization using both experimental and computational tools. Lightly crosslinked polystyrene seeds were first synthesized using dispersion polymerization. Then the seed particles were swollen in tert-butyl acrylate and styrene monomers, and subsequently polymerized into nanoparticles of dumbbell and multilobe morphologies. It was discovered that both the seed and final particle morphology were affected by the methanol concentration during the seed synthesis.Systematically adjusting the methanol amount will not only yield spherical seed particles of different size, but also dumbbell particles even without the second monomer polymerization. In addition to methanol concentration, morphology can be controlled by crosslinking density. The kinetics studies revealed an

Dual drug-loaded biodegradable Janus particles for simultaneous co-delivery of hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds

“…This figure shows two SEM snapshots of Janus particles with APAP and NPX, both showing some protrusions. Protrusions in Janus particles were observed before 50 but their origin is still not completely understood. We hypothesize that these protrusions occur during the solvent evaporation stage as the droplets shrink and then expand causing first tiny protrusions due to interfacial instability and finally yielding particles with a rough surface and more significant protrusions.…”

Paclitaxel loaded poly (DL lactic acid co castor oil) 60:40 with poloxamer‐F68 rod shape cylindrical nanoparticle preparation and in vitro cytotoxicity studies

“…There is, however, a growing involvement in utilizing nonspherical particle shapes including flat disks, cylinders, elongated liposomes, filomicelles, and carbon tubes. It is potential to manipulate the size and shape of polymeric nanoparticles by controlling the hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties of polymers, solvent processes, and polymerization of the nanoparticles . Our study synthesized and used cylindrical nanoparticles within PTX.…”

“…It is potential to manipulate the size and shape of polymeric nanoparticles by controlling the hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties of polymers, solvent processes, and polymerization of the nanoparticles. [16][17][18][19][20] Our study synthesized and used cylindrical nanoparticles within PTX. The poly (DL lactic acid co castor oil) 4:6.…”

Self-stratification of amphiphilic Janus particles at coating surfaces

“…First, a scalable and economical synthetic route is established to produce a large quantity of amphiphilic Janus particles based on emulsion polymerization techniques broadly adopted in the coating industry. [37][38][39] A schematic plot of the reaction procedure is shown in Fig. S1 (ESI †).…”