Core–shell microgels having zwitterionic hydrogel core and temperature-responsive shell prepared via inverse miniemulsion RAFT polymerization

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive core–shell microgels are of significant interest because of their fascinating applications due to the different swelling/shrinkage properties of their core and shell networks. Because such stimuli-responsive core–shell microgels are...

From non-conventional ideas to multifunctional solvents inspired by green chemistry: fancy or sustainable macromolecular chemistry?

“…Although the adoption of solvent dissolving both substrates and products to conduct polymerization in a homogenous system is the most convenient way, in some cases, the selection of the adequate solvent, especially green might be challenging. Such limitation induces changing the chosen approach to a heterogeneous mixture such as typical (oil-in-water) [51][52][53] or inversed (water-in-oil) 54,55 emulsion or, characterized by particles of dispersed phase smaller than 1 μL, mini-emulsion, 56 which often enable the syntheses of hydrophobic, usually polymerized in pure organic media, monomers in more ecological, partially aqueous media. Nevertheless, these are examples of purified compounds since every quantity of impurities was considered to cause disruption in RDRP equilibrium and loss of control, which is the reason for its high cost, complicating the scaling up of the processes.…”

“…133 Considering RDRP methods, it was successfully used in the role of the solvent in the synthesis of amphiphilic copolymers of 2-(hydroxyethyl) methacrylate (HEMA) or polyethylene glycol methacrylate (PEGMA) with lactide or ε-caprolacrone using several polymerization techniques (ring-opening polymerization (ROP), free radical polymerization (FRP) and RAFT) single or in tandem. 17 The search for more environmentally friendly approaches was also expanded to heterogeneous media, where in the case of the organic phase being the continuous one, large volumes of toxic organic solvents 52,55,134 were employed, most of which were derived from limited fossil fuels. Therefore, finding more ecological alternatives has become a matter of great importance.…”

“…The search for more environmentally friendly approaches was also expanded to heterogeneous media, where in the case of the organic phase being the continuous one, large volumes of toxic organic solvents 52,55,134 were employed, most of which were derived from limited fossil fuels. Therefore, finding more ecological alternatives has become a matter of great importance.…”