In Situ Spectroscopic Studies of Highly Transparent Nanoparticle Dispersions Enable Assessment of Trithiocarbonate Chain-End Fidelity during RAFT Dispersion Polymerization in Nonpolar Media.

ABSTRACT: We report the synthesis of highly transparent poly(stearyl methacrylate)-poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate) (PSMA-PTFEMA) diblock copolymer nanoparticles via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) in nonpolar media at 70 °C. This was achieved by chain-extending a PSMA precursor block via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) dispersion polymerization of TFEMA in n-tetradecane. This n-alkane has the same refractive index as the PTFEMA core-forming block at 70 °C, which ensures high light transmittance when targeting 33 nm spherical nanoparticles. Such isorefractivity enables visible absorption spectra to be recorded with minimal light scattering even at 30% w/w solids. However, in situ monitoring of the trithiocarbonate RAFT end-groups during PISA requires select

SUBMITTER: Cornel EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6187374 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature