Preparation of Polymer Nanoparticles via Phase Inversion Temperature Method Using Amphiphilic Block Polymer Synthesized by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Abstract

We report the first synthesis of polymer nanoparticles employing the phase inversion temperature (PIT) method using a polymeric surfactant. Oil-in-water nanoemulsions were prepared by the PIT method using amphiphilic comb-like block polymer (polystyrene-b-poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate], PSt-b-POEGMA) as a polymeric surfactant, and subsequently St droplets were polymerized. PSt-b-POEGMA was synthesized by sequential atom transfer radical polymerization of St and OEGMA. The interfacial property of PSt-b-POEGMA in aqueous media was investigated by surface tension measurement and fluorescence probe technique. Monodisperse PSt nanoparticles with 50 nm in diameter were obtained by a free radical polymerization of St droplets initiated by the water-soluble initiator. Key words: phase inversion temperature (PIT) / polymeric surfactant / amphiphilic block polymer / atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) / polymer nanoparticles