Monodisperse Polymer Capsules: Tailoring Size, Shell Thickness, and Hydrophobic Cargo Loading via Emulsion Templating

Jiwei Cui, Yajun Wang, Almar Postma, Jingcheng Hao, Leticia Hosta Rigau, Frank Caruso

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

The preparation of monodisperse polymer (polydopamine, PDA) capsules by a one-step interfacial polymerization of dopamine onto dimethyldiethoxysilane (DMDES) emulsion droplets and removal of the DMDES templates with ethanol is reported. The diameters of the PDA capsules can be tailored from 400 nm to 2.4 μm by varying either the DMDES emulsion condensation time or the emulsion concentration used for templating. Further, capsules with defined nanometer-scale shell thicknesses (ranging from similar to ~10 to 30 nm) can be prepared by adjusting the emulsion concentration. This shell thickness can be increased by repeated interfacial polymerization of dopamine, with three cycles yielding capsules with a shell thickness of up to 140 nm (for a 0.6% v/v suspension). Functional substances, such as organically stabilized magnetic (Fe3O4) nanoparticles, quantum dots (CdSe/CdS), and hydrophobic drugs (thiocoraline), can be preloaded in the emulsion droplets, and following PDA coating and DMDES removal, these materials remain encapsulated in the polymer capsules. All of the unloaded and loaded PDA capsules are monodisperse and do not aggregate. This work provides new avenues for the preparation of polymer capsules with defined size and shell thickness and for the encapsulation of a range of hydrophobic substances.
Original languageEnglish
JournalAdvanced Functional Materials
Volume20
Issue number10
Pages (from-to)1625-1631
Number of pages7
ISSN1616-301X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Biomaterials
  • Electrochemistry
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • CdSe/CdS
  • Dimethyldiethoxysilane
  • Emulsion droplets
  • Emulsion templating
  • Hydrophobic drug
  • Interfacial polymerization
  • Monodisperse
  • Monodisperse polymers
  • Nano-meter-scale
  • Polymer capsules
  • Quantum Dot
  • Shell thickness
  • Templating
  • Brain
  • Drop formation
  • Emulsification
  • Emulsions
  • Ethanol
  • Fuzzy control
  • Hydrophobicity
  • Nanoparticles
  • Personal digital assistants
  • Polymerization
  • Polymers
  • Shells (structures)
  • Encapsulation
  • CHEMISTRY,
  • NANOSCIENCE
  • MATERIALS
  • PHYSICS,
  • POLYELECTROLYTE MULTILAYER CAPSULES
  • LIQUID-CRYSTAL DROPLETS
  • COLLOIDAL PARTICLES
  • ANTITUMOR-ACTIVITY
  • MICROCAPSULES
  • CORE
  • TEMPERATURE
  • RELEASE
  • MANIPULATION
  • THIOCORALINE

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Monodisperse Polymer Capsules: Tailoring Size, Shell Thickness, and Hydrophobic Cargo Loading via Emulsion Templating'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this