| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4753832 | Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry | 2017 | 8 Pages |
â¢Photo-curing of monomer in an aerosol stream.â¢Controlled phase separation in the droplet in order to get nano-structured particles.â¢Chain transfer agent to aid the structuring process.
Microparticles with non-full structures are interesting in many applications. In their production, however, issues related to purification are common. To overcome these issues, in this study a continuous polymerization process was developed in order to obtain powdered, nano-structured microparticles using neither surfactants nor a liquid medium.More specifically, a photo-induced cationic polymerization in aerosol was applied. A monomer solution was sprayed and irradiated with UV-light. During the reactor passage, both polymerization and phase separation occurred inside the single droplet. By adjusting the solvents amounts and ratios, different structures could be realized. Nano-structured particles with tunable pore shapes and dimensions were obtained. Capsule-like structures were obtained with the addition of a co-solvent able to get involved in the polymerization.An active ingredient was encapsulated within the particles. Results showed that the addition of the active ingredient did not affect the synthesis; furthermore, the particles structure had an impact on the release kinetics.
Graphical abstractDownload high-res image (141KB)Download full-size image
