Double-responsive polymer brushes on the surface of colloid particles

Well-defined poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) brushes were synthesized on the surface of polystyrene latex particles by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). It was found that the surface-initiated polymerization of DMAEMA catalyzed by CuCl/CuCl2/bpy was under good control in the solvent of acetone/water at ambient temperature (35 °C). High-density PDMAEMA brushes with low polydispersity (PDI 1.21) were obtained. TEM results demonstrate that the PDMAEMA-grafted particles have core–shell structure. Dynamic light scattering studies indicate that the particles with PDMAEMA brushes are both pH and temperature responsive.

pH/Temperature-responsive polymer brushes were synthesized by ATRP of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate from the surface of functionalized polystyrene latex. The polymerization catalyzed by CuCl/CuCl2/bpy was under good control in acetone/H2O.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide