Multi-responsive polymer nanoparticles from the amphiphilic poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-containing poly(ether amine) (PDMS-gPEA) and its potential application for smart separation

Abstract

We report here a novel amphiphilic PDMS-containing poly(ether amine) (PDMS-gPEA) synthesized through one-pot condensation polymerization of commercial di-epoxy and amine monomers. The obtained PDMS-gPEA could be dispersed directly in aqueous solution to form stable uniform-sized nanoparticles with a diameter of about 16 nm, whose aggregation is responsive to temperature, pH and ionic strength with tunable cloud point (CP). The whole process for the responsive aggregation of PDMS-gPEA nanoparticles was revealed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), and was intensively studied by UV-vis spectra. The responsive nanoparticles of PDMS-gPEA possessed the unique selective encapsulation of water-soluble dye, which provides potential applications in smart separations.

Multi-stimuli-responsive aggregation of nanoparticles driven by the manipulation of colloidal stability

“…Yin's group also published results on the separation of dyes using silica particles with a PEA shell. [99][100][101][102] These particles are again responsive to temperature, pH and ionic strength, and the aggregation of these particles is observed. The greater number of aggregating particle systems that are discovered and the more in-depth knowledge we generate of them, the more possible applications of these systems will be discovered.…”

Multi-Stimuli-Responsive Polymer Materials: Particles, Films, and Bulk Gels

“…Amphiphilic graft PEAs comprised of hydrophilic PEO and hydrophobic octadecyl alkyl chains as side chains were synthesized 126. They also prepared poly(dimethylsiloxane)‐containing poly(ether amine)127 and fluorinated graft poly(ether amine)s 128. The above polymers could all self‐assemble into micelles that were multi‐stimuli responsive to temperature, pH, and ionic strength.…”

Stimuli‐responsive star polymers

“…Therefore, amphiphilic comb copolymers are dispersed in aqueous solution to yield nanoobjects. Amphiphilic PDMS‐containing poly(ether amine) (PDMS‐g‐PEA) synthesized through one‐pot condensation polymerization of commercial di‐epoxy and amine monomers could be dispersed directly in aqueous solution to form stable uniform‐sized nanoobjectes with a diameter of about 16 nm, whose aggregation is responsive to temperature, pH and ionic strength with tunable cloud point ( T c ) . PDMS‐g‐PEA nanoparticles are composed of hydrophobic PDMS and PPO as their core and a hydrophilic part (EO co PPO) as the outer shell.…”