New Approach To Produce Monosized Polymer Microcapsules by the Solute Co-diffusion Method

Abstract

This study introduces a new approach for producing highly monosized polymer microcapsules. The technique employs an impressive process in which the solute, dissolved freely in a solvent, is diffused uniformly into the preexisting monosized polymer particles in the form of a fine emulsion. The solvent is then eliminated, resulting consequently in solute-loaded polymer microcapsules. We named it a solute co-diffusion method, SCM. The loading efficiency of the solute was predicted successfully by a thermodynamic equation. In the experiment, the indomethacin-loaded poly(methyl methacrylate) microparticles were produced via SCM. From our results, SCM is expected to expand significantly the drug-loading technology in related fields.

Monodisperse polymer particles synthesized by seeded polymerization techniques

“…Our method is as follows; first, the solute/solvent mixture in the form of a fine emulsion is diffused uniformly into the preexisting mono-sized polymer particles, then, the solvent is either eliminated from the swollen droplets composed of solute, solvent, and polymer, or polymerized to solidify the swollen droplets. We named this process a solute co-diffusion method, SCM [42,43]. In SCM, the size and size distribution of the microcapsules are predetermined by the characteristics of the preexisting polymer particles.…”

Hollow polymer microcapsule embedded transparent and heat-insulating film

“…This result reveals that the prepared microcapsules possessed hollow spherical morphology, consistent with the identically prepared microcapsule reported elsewhere. 19,22,23 This fact also highlights their potential usages in numerous industrial fields including drug delivery, self-healing materials, fragrance release, nutrient preservation, and etc. 24–30 …”

“…1 . The narrow size distributed, hollow PMMA microcapsules were prepared via emulsion polymerization 19 using 2,2′-azobisisobutylronitrile (AIBN) and methanol as the initiator and solvent, respectively. AIBN, MMA monomer, dioctylsulfosuccinate sodium salt (AOT), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), and methanol were weighed into the reactor.…”

“…Hollow PMMA microcapsule was prepared following a previously published procedure. 19 Briefly, AOT (0.9 wt%, 0.45 g), PVP (4 wt%, 4 g), and MeOH (85.45 wt%, 108 mL) were added to the argon purged reactor vessel and allowed to stir for 10 min at room temperature to facilitate the dissolution of AOT and PVP. Then, MMA (10 wt%, 10 mL) and AIBN (0.1 wt%, 0.1 g) were added to the reactor.…”

Quantification of Aldehydes on Polymeric Microbead Surfaces via Catch and Release of Reporter Chromophores

“…Aldehyde-functionalized poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microbeads (CHO-beads, PolyAn GmbH, Germany) were synthesized employing a dispersion polymerization method. , For surface modification, an acetal-protected aldehyde-bearing acrylic acid monomer was grafted on presynthesized PMMA beads through a photoinduced polymerization reaction. More details on an exemplary synthesis are provided in the Supporting Information (SI, see section S1.1).…”