One‐Step Synthesis of Fluorescent Poly(divinylbenzene) Particles without Fluorescent Monomers

Abstract

A simple and cost‐efficient method for fluorescent microsphere synthesis, which does not require any fluorescent monomers or modification steps to incorporate fluorescent moieties into the polymer particles, is reported. Using rhodamine B and benzophenone as bimolecular initiation system in type II photoinitiated precipitation polymerization, the method enables the preparation of fluorescent microspheres in one step, at room temperature and without the need for a stabilizer or surfactant of any type.

Recent Advances in and Application of Fluorescent Microspheres for Multiple Nucleic Acid Detection

“…Xiaoqin Liang’s research team [ 75 ], on the other hand, successfully prepared a material called polymerization-induced emission (AIE) polymer nanoparticles (PNPs) by fine emulsion polymerization of tetraphenylene (TPE), a molecule with AIE properties, encapsulated in a polymer matrix. Tugrul Cem Bicak and others [ 76 ] reported a simple and cost-effective method for the synthesis of fluorescent microspheres without the need for any fluorescent monomers or modification steps to dope the fluorescent portion into polymer particles. Using rhodamine B and benzophenone as a bimolecular initiation system for type II photoinitiated precipitation polymerization, fluorescent microspheres were prepared in a single step at room temperature without the need for any type of stabilizer or surfactant.…”

Photo-induced synthesis of polymeric nanoparticles and chemiluminescent degradable materials via flow chemistry

“…13,14 Photoinduced precipitation polymerisation is of particular interest since the reaction is carried out at room temperature with all the advantages of photochemistry such as spatiotemporal control. Photoinitiators of type I [15][16][17] or II 18,19 are generally employed, therefore producing particles via free or controlled radical chain growth polymerisation.…”

“…However, despite the novelty and key advances demonstrated in our previously reported study, it remained limited in scope due to the small scale and comparatively long reaction times of batch synthesis along with the sensitive nature of precipitation polymerisation, in particular related to the need to employ a low stirring rate to avoid aggregation and encourage uniform particle formation. 19 One key challenge in precipitation polymerisation is scalability and efficiency as the monomer loading is typically low and the reaction times can vary from a few hours to a few days. Continuous flow reactors represent a viable option as they offer faster reaction times, increased yields and the ability to control more reaction parameters compared to conventional batch methods.…”

Fluorescent core–shell magnetic nanoparticles by type II photoinitiated polymerisation

“…As a continuation of our efforts to find more effective and cost-efficient methods for in situ synthesis and functionalisation of polymers, more recently, we applied this strategy for the synthesis of highly cross-linked and fluorescent polymer microspheres by precipitation polymerisation. 22 Herein, we aim to expand our previously developed strategy for fluorescent MN synthesis, and investigate the possibility of using a rhodamine-benzophenone type II photoinitiator system for the formation of a fluorescent polyacrylamide layer around acrylic acid (Aac)-functionalised maghemite nanoparticles in one step without the necessity to use fluorescent monomers or to modify the particles. The synthetic strategy to produce magnetic and fluorescent core-shell NPs is illustrated in Fig.…”

“…As a continuation of our efforts to find more effective and cost-efficient methods for in situ synthesis and functionalisation of polymers, more recently, we applied this strategy for the synthesis of highly cross-linked and fluorescent polymer microspheres by precipitation polymerisation. 22…”