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Astier S, Johnson EC, Norvilaite O, Varlas S, Brotherton EE, Sanderson G, Leggett GJ, Armes SP. Controlling Adsorption of Diblock Copolymer Nanoparticles onto an Aldehyde-Functionalized Hydrophilic Polymer Brush via pH Modulation. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024. [PMID: 38320303 PMCID: PMC10883040 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Sterically stabilized diblock copolymer nanoparticles with a well-defined spherical morphology and tunable diameter were prepared by RAFT aqueous emulsion polymerization of benzyl methacrylate at 70 °C. The steric stabilizer precursor used for these syntheses contained pendent cis-diol groups, which means that such nanoparticles can react with a suitable aldehyde-functional surface via acetal bond formation. This principle is examined herein by growing an aldehyde-functionalized polymer brush from a planar silicon wafer and studying the extent of nanoparticle adsorption onto this model substrate from aqueous solution at 25 °C using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). The adsorbed amount, Γ, depends on both the nanoparticle diameter and the solution pH, with minimal adsorption observed at pH 7 or 10 and substantial adsorption achieved at pH 4. Variable-temperature QCM studies provide strong evidence for chemical adsorption, while scanning electron microscopy images recorded for the nanoparticle-coated brush surface after drying indicate mean surface coverages of up to 62%. This fundamental study extends our understanding of the chemical adsorption of nanoparticles on soft substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Astier
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K
| | - Edwin C Johnson
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K
| | - Oleta Norvilaite
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K
| | - Spyridon Varlas
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K
| | - Emma E Brotherton
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K
| | - George Sanderson
- GEO Specialty Chemicals, Hythe, Southampton, Hampshire SO45 3ZG, U.K
| | - Graham J Leggett
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K
| | - Steven P Armes
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K
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2
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Wen SP, Trinh E, Yue Q, Fielding LA. Physical Adsorption of Graphene Oxide onto Polymer Latexes and Characterization of the Resulting Nanocomposite Particles. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:8187-8199. [PMID: 35771239 PMCID: PMC9281389 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Polymer/graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposite particles were prepared via heteroflocculation between 140-220 nm cationic latex nanoparticles and anionic GO nanosheets in either acidic or basic conditions. It is demonstrated that nanocomposite particles can be formed using either poly(2-vinylpyridine)-b-poly(benzyl methacrylate) (P2VP-PBzMA) block copolymer nanoparticles prepared by reversible-addition chain-transfer (RAFT)-mediated polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA), or poly(ethylene glycol)methacrylate (PEGMA)-stabilized P2VP latexes prepared by traditional emulsion polymerization. These two latexes are different morphologically as the P2VP-PBzMA block copolymer latexes have P2VP steric stabilizer chains in their corona, whereas the PEGMA-stabilized P2VP particles have a P2VP core and a nonionic steric stabilizer. Nevertheless, both the P2VP-PBzMA and PEGMA-stabilized P2VP latexes are cationic at low pH. Thus, the addition of GO to these latexes causes flocculation to occur immediately due to the opposite charges between the anionic GO nanosheets and cationic latexes. Control heteroflocculation experiments were conducted using anionic sterically stabilized poly(potassium 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate)-b-poly(benzyl methacrylate) (PKSPMA-PBzMA) and nonionic poly(benzyl methacrylate) (PBzMA) nanoparticles to demonstrate that polymer/GO nanocomposite particles were not formed. The degree of flocculation and the strength of electrostatic interaction between the cationic polymer latexes and GO were assessed using disc centrifuge photosedimentometry (DCP), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-visible spectrophotometry. These studies suggest that the optimal conditions for the formation of polymer/GO nanocomposite particles were GO contents between 10% and 20% w/w relative to latex, with the latexes containing P2VP in their corona having a stronger electrostatic attraction to the GO sheets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang-Pin Wen
- Department
of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Elisabeth Trinh
- Department
of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Qi Yue
- Department
of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Lee A. Fielding
- Department
of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
- Henry
Royce Institute, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
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3
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Wen SP, Fielding LA. Pyridine-functional diblock copolymer nanoparticles synthesized via RAFT-mediated polymerization-induced self-assembly: effect of solution pH. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:1385-1394. [PMID: 35084008 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01793d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization has become widely recognized as a versatile and efficient strategy to prepare complex block copolymer nanoparticles with controlled morphology, size, and surface functionality. In this article, we report the preparation of cationic sterically-stabilized poly(2-vinylpyridine)-poly(benzyl methacrylate) (P2VP-PBzMA) diblock copolymer nanoparticles via RAFT-mediated PISA under aqueous emulsion polymerization conditions. It is demonstrated that the solution pH during PISA has a dramatic effect on the resulting P2VP-PBzMA nanoparticles, as judged by dynamic light scattering (DLS), disc centrifuge photosedimentometry (DCP) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Varying the solution pH results in the P2VP stabilizer having different solubilities due to protonation/deprotonation of the pyridine groups. This allows P2VP-PBzMA nanoparticles with tunable diameters to be prepared by altering the DP of the stabilizer (P2VP) and/or core-forming block (PBzMA), or simply by changing the solution pH for a fixed copolymer composition. For example, P2VP-PBzMA nanoparticles with larger diameters can be obtained at higher solution pH as the protonation degree of the P2VP stabilizer has a large effect on both the aggregation of polymer chains during the PISA process, and the resulting behavior of the diblock copolymer nanoparticles. Changing the dispersion pH post-polymerization has a relatively limited effect on particle diameter. Furthermore, aqueous electrophoresis studies indicate that these P2VP-PBzMA nanoparticles had good colloidal stability and high cationic charge (>30 mV) below pH 5 and can be dispersed readily over a wide pH range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang-Pin Wen
- Department of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Lee A Fielding
- Department of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
- Henry Royce Institute, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
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Chan DH, Kynaston EL, Lindsay C, Taylor P, Armes SP. Block Copolymer Nanoparticles are Effective Dispersants for Micrometer-Sized Organic Crystalline Particles. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:30235-30243. [PMID: 34151553 PMCID: PMC8289232 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c08261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Well-defined sterically stabilized diblock copolymer nanoparticles of 29 nm diameter are prepared by RAFT aqueous emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate using a dithiobenzoate-capped poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) precursor. These nanoparticles are evaluated as a dispersant for the preparation of organic crystalline microparticles via ball milling. This is exemplified for azoxystrobin, which is a broad-spectrum fungicide that is widely used to protect various food crops. Laser diffraction and optical microscopy studies indicate the formation of azoxystrobin microparticles of approximately 2 μm diameter after ball milling for 10 min at 400 rpm. Nanoparticle adsorption at the surface of these azoxystrobin microparticles is confirmed by electron microscopy studies. The extent of nanoparticle adsorption on the azoxystrobin microparticles can be quantified using a supernatant assay based on solution densitometry. This technique indicates an adsorbed amount of approximately 5.5 mg m-2, which is sufficient to significantly reduce the negative zeta potential exhibited by azoxystrobin. Moreover, this adsorbed amount appears to be essentially independent of the nature of the core-forming block, with similar data being obtained for both poly(methyl methacrylate)- and poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate)-based nanoparticles. Finally, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies confirm attenuation of the underlying N1s signal arising from the azoxystrobin microparticles by the former adsorbed nanoparticles, suggesting a fractional surface coverage of approximately 0.24. This value is consistent with a theoretical surface coverage of 0.25 calculated from the adsorption isotherm data. Overall, this study suggests that sterically stabilized diblock copolymer nanoparticles may offer a useful alternative approach to traditional soluble copolymer dispersants for the preparation of suspension concentrates affecting the context of agrochemical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek
H. H. Chan
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, University
of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South
Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
| | - Emily L. Kynaston
- Syngenta,
Jealott’s Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire RG42 6EY, U.K.
| | - Christopher Lindsay
- Syngenta,
Jealott’s Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire RG42 6EY, U.K.
| | - Philip Taylor
- Syngenta,
Jealott’s Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire RG42 6EY, U.K.
| | - Steven P. Armes
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, University
of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South
Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
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5
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Eren ED, Moradi MA, Friedrich H, de With G. Building Reversible Nanoraspberries. NANO LETTERS 2021; 21:2232-2239. [PMID: 33600190 PMCID: PMC8031639 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c05059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The adsorption mechanism of small positively charged silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) onto larger polystyrene latex nanoparticles (PSL NPs) forming hybrid particles was studied. CryoTEM showed the morphology of these supraparticles to be raspberry-like. After surface modification of the SiO2 NPs, the optimum pH regime to initiate the formation of nanoraspberries was determined. Thereafter, their size evolution was evaluated by dynamic light scattering for different surface charge densities. Reversibility of nanoraspberry formation was shown by cycling the pH of the mixture to make interparticle forces either attractive or repulsive, while their stability was confirmed experimentally. The number of SiO2 NPs on the PSL NPs as determined with cryoTEM matched the theoretically expected maximum number. Understanding and controlling the relevant parameters, such as size and charge of the individual particles and the Debye length, will pave the way to better control of the formation of nanoraspberries and higher-order assemblies thereof.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Deniz Eren
- Laboratory
of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Mohammad-Amin Moradi
- Laboratory
of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Heiner Friedrich
- Laboratory
of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute
for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven
University of Technology, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Gijsbertus de With
- Laboratory
of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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Gibson RR, Cornel EJ, Musa OM, Fernyhough A, Armes SP. RAFT dispersion polymerisation of lauryl methacrylate in ethanol–water binary mixtures: synthesis of diblock copolymer vesicles with deformable membranes. Polym Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/c9py01768b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Diblock copolymer vesicles with deformable membranes are prepared via RAFT dispersion polymerisation of lauryl methacrylate in an 80 : 20 w/w ethanol–water mixture; visible light irradiation allows facile RAFT chain-end removal from these nano-objects.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. R. Gibson
- Dainton Building
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Sheffield
- Sheffield
- UK
| | - E. J. Cornel
- Dainton Building
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Sheffield
- Sheffield
- UK
| | | | | | - S. P. Armes
- Dainton Building
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Sheffield
- Sheffield
- UK
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7
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Characterization methods for studying protein adsorption on nano-polystyrene beads. J Chromatogr A 2019; 1606:460383. [PMID: 31345621 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2019.460383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This work is dealing with the use of polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles as substrates for bioanalytical specific interactions. Different techniques were used for the accurate characterization of the PS nanoparticles of 100 nm and 196 nm before coating them with a layer of antibodies against immunoglobulins of type E (aIgE), giving to the particle a specific functionality. The formation of the aIgE adsorbed layer was monitored using centrifugal particle separation (CPS) and centrifugal field flow fractionation (CF3) experiments, which allowed to determine the size changes and the adsorbed mass. Particle sizes were also measured with DLS, used both as stand-alone instrument and coupled to CF3 (CF3-DLS). The complementary information obtained from the CPS and CF3-DLS measurements allowed the estimation of the density of the aIgE shell. The proteins immobilized at the surface fully retained their activity, as proven by the reactions between the functionalized PS-aIgE particles and immunoglobulins of type E (IgE) dispersed in suspensions prepared on purpose.
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8
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Le D, Keller D, Delaittre G. Reactive and Functional Nanoobjects by Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly. Macromol Rapid Commun 2018; 40:e1800551. [DOI: 10.1002/marc.201800551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dao Le
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics; Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen Germany
- Macromolecular Architectures, Institute for Chemical Technology and Polymer Chemistry; Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; Engesserstr. 18, 76128 Karlsruhe Germany
| | - Dominic Keller
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics; Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen Germany
- Macromolecular Architectures, Institute for Chemical Technology and Polymer Chemistry; Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; Engesserstr. 18, 76128 Karlsruhe Germany
| | - Guillaume Delaittre
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics; Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen Germany
- Macromolecular Architectures, Institute for Chemical Technology and Polymer Chemistry; Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; Engesserstr. 18, 76128 Karlsruhe Germany
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9
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Roka N, Pitsikalis M. Statistical copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and benzyl methacrylate via RAFT: Monomer reactivity ratios, thermal properties and kinetics of thermal decomposition. JOURNAL OF MACROMOLECULAR SCIENCE PART A-PURE AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/10601325.2017.1403858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nikoletta Roka
- Industrial Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
| | - Marinos Pitsikalis
- Industrial Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
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10
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Mulderig A, Beaucage G, Vogtt K, Jiang H, Jin Y, Clapp L, Henderson DC. Structural Emergence in Particle Dispersions. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2017; 33:14029-14037. [PMID: 29144144 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b03033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Particle dispersions, such as pigment-based inks, comprise weakly bound, milled nanoparticles. The properties of these pigments depend on both their chemical composition and a rather complex structural hierarchy which emerges from these dispersions. The emergence of structure under semidilute conditions is related to the structure of the dilute particles, the particle spacing (mesh size), processing history, and the interaction potential. Kinetic simulations could predict such emergence using these input parameters. In this paper, organic pigments are studied as an example of the importance of emergent structure to predict properties such as brilliance and opacity. Organic pigments are used to impart color to commercial inks, plastics, coatings, and cosmetics. In many cases, dilute pigments are mass fractal structures consisting of aggregated nanoparticles held together by weak van der Waals forces. In water, surfactant is added to create a pigment dispersion (an ink). The final properties of a pigment emerge from a complex interplay between aggregation and dispersion of aggregates as a function of concentration. Samples of the organic pigment yellow 14, PY14, were milled to four primary particle sizes to study the effect on structural emergence. The interaction between surfactant-stabilized PY14 aggregates in an aqueous medium was quantified by the second virial coefficient, A2, which reflects long-range interactions. The degree of aggregation is associated with short-range attractive interactions between primary particles. In this series of pigments, the degree of aggregation increases dramatically with reduction in primary particle size. Concurrently, the second-order virial coefficient, A2, increases reflecting stronger long-range repulsive interactions with particle size. Structural emergence can be understood through the percolation concentration and the filler mesh size. A2 is translated into a repulsive interaction potential for use in dissipative particle dynamics simulations to enable predictive modeling. This description of the interactions between dispersed pigment aggregates allows for a more scientific and predictive approach to understand structural emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Mulderig
- Department of Materials Science, University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, United States
| | - Gregory Beaucage
- Department of Materials Science, University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, United States
| | - Karsten Vogtt
- Department of Materials Science, University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, United States
| | - Hanqiu Jiang
- Department of Materials Science, University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, United States
| | - Yan Jin
- Department of Materials Science, University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, United States
| | - Lisa Clapp
- Colors Group, Sun Chemical Corporation , Cincinnati, Ohio 45232, United States
| | - Donald C Henderson
- Colors Group, Sun Chemical Corporation , Cincinnati, Ohio 45232, United States
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