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Nishizawa Y, Minato H, Inui T, Uchihashi T, Suzuki D. Nanostructures, Thermoresponsiveness, and Assembly Mechanism of Hydrogel Microspheres during Aqueous Free-Radical Precipitation Polymerization. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:151-159. [PMID: 33355463 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c02654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Although techniques to produce uniformly sized hydrogel microspheres (microgels) by aqueous free-radical precipitation polymerization are well established, the details of the polymerization process remain mysterious. In the present study, the structural evolution and thermoresponsiveness of the developing microgels during the polymerization were evaluated by temperature-controlled high-speed atomic force microscopy. This analysis clarified that the swelling properties of the precursor microgels formed in the early stages of the polymerization are quite low due to the high incorporation of cross-linkers and that non-thermoresponsive deca-nanosized spherical domains are already present in the precursor microgels. Furthermore, we succeeded in tracking the formation of nuclei and their growth process, which has never been fully understood, in aqueous solution by real-time observations. These findings will help us to design functional microgels with the desired nanostructures via precipitation polymerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichiro Nishizawa
- Graduate School of Textile Science & Technology, Shinshu University, 3-15-1 Tokida, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
| | - Haruka Minato
- Graduate School of Textile Science & Technology, Shinshu University, 3-15-1 Tokida, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
| | - Takumi Inui
- Graduate School of Textile Science & Technology, Shinshu University, 3-15-1 Tokida, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
| | - Takayuki Uchihashi
- Department of Physics and Structural Biology Research Center, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chiksusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
| | - Daisuke Suzuki
- Graduate School of Textile Science & Technology, Shinshu University, 3-15-1 Tokida, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
- Research Initiative for Supra-Materials, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Shinshu University, 3-15-1 Tokida, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
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Suzuki D, Shibata K, Tsuchida A, Okubo T. Thermo-sensitive colloidal crystals composed of monodisperse colloidal silica- and poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) gel spheres. Colloid Polym Sci 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-015-3661-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Fujii S, Kobayashi K, Nakamura Y, Okubo T. Drying structures of micrometer-sized cationic gel spheres of lightly cross-linked poly(2-vinyl pyridine) in the deionized aqueous suspension. Colloid Polym Sci 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-015-3575-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Drying dissipative structures of gelatin solution. Colloid Polym Sci 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-015-3558-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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5
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Drying dissipative structures of arrowroot starch. Colloid Polym Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-014-3370-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Fujii S, Yamashita Y, Nakamura Y, Okubo T. Drying dissipative structures of cationic gel spheres of lightly cross-linked poly(2-vinylpyridine) in deionized aqueous suspension. Colloid Polym Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-014-3315-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Fujii S, Nakamura Y, Tsuchida A, Okubo T. Colloidal crystallization of poly(n-butyl acrylate) spheres in deionized aqueous suspension and the melting during dryness. Colloid Polym Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-014-3277-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Drying dissipative structures of spindle-shaped hematite particles coated with polymer brush. Colloid Polym Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-014-3164-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Okubo T, Tsuchida A. Drying dissipative structure of sodium salts of hyaluronic acid. Colloid Polym Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-013-3082-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Okubo T, Tsuchida A. Drying dissipative structures of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) homopolymer. Colloid Polym Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-013-3053-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Okubo T. Inclusional association as studied by the drying dissipative structure. Part 3. Drying pattern of aqueous mixtures of β-cyclodextrin and n-alkyltrimethylammonium bromide. Colloid Polym Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-013-3009-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Inclusional association as studied by the drying dissipative structure. Part 2. Drying pattern of n-alkyltrimethylammonium bromide. Colloid Polym Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-013-2991-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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13
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Drying dissipative structures of cationic gel spheres of lightly cross-linked poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (170 ∼ 180 nm in diameter) in the deionized aqueous suspension. Colloid Polym Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-013-3030-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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14
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Okubo T. Drying dissipative structure of similar sized aggregates (1.5 μm in diameter) of nano-sized diamond particles (4 nm in diameter). Colloid Polym Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-013-2930-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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15
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Distorted colloidal crystal of similar-sized aggregates (1.5 μm in diameter) of nano-sized diamond particles (4 nm in diameter). Colloid Polym Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-013-2896-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Inclusional association as studied by the drying dissipative structure. Part 1. Drying patterns of α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrin. Colloid Polym Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-013-2972-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Okubo T, Fujii S, Aono K, Nakamura Y, Tsuchida A. Colloidal crystallization of cationic gel spheres of lightly cross-linked poly(2-vinylpyridine) in the deionized aqueous suspension. Colloid Polym Sci 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-012-2850-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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18
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Drying dissipative structures of lightly cross-linked poly(2-vinyl pyridine) cationic gel spheres stabilized with poly(ethylene glycol) in the deionized aqueous suspension. Colloid Polym Sci 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-012-2825-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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