Characterisation and absorption of surfactant into microgel monolayers

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Absorption of cetylpyridinium chloride into Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-Based microgel particles, in dispersion and as surface-deposited monolayers

The addition of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) to aqueous dispersions of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) [poly(NIPAM)] and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) [poly(NIPAM-co-AAc)] microgel particles leads to absorption of the CPC into the particles and to corresponding changes in their hydrodynamic diameter. With the latter set of particles there is a strong pH dependence. The dependence of both hydrodynamic diameter and electrophoretic mobility of the microgel particles on the added CPC concentration show a strong correlation with CPC uptake, as obtained from direct CPC absorption measurements. Various mechanisms for CPC absorption into the microgel particles are postulated, including electrostatic, polar, and hydrophobic interactions. A comparison has also been made between the effect of added CPC on the hydrodynamic diameter of free microgel particles in dispersion, determined by dynamic light scattering, and the thickness of adsorbed monolayers of the same microgel particles deposited on cationically modified, oxidized silicon surfaces, as determined from ellipsometry measurements. The trends observed in both cases are broadly similar. This work opens the way for development of microgel layers for controlled uptake and release applications

Encapsulation and growth of gold nanoparticles in thermoresponsive microgels

Contreras-Caceres R, Sanchez-Iglesias A, Karg M, et al. Encapsulation and growth of gold nanoparticles in thermoresponsive microgels. Advanced Materials. 2008;20(9):1666-1670.Gold nanoparticles are encapsulated within thermoresponsive pNIPAM migrogels through an easy two-step protocol. The core/shell structure of the composite is characterized by TEM, AFM, PCS, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The restricted environment and the high porosity of the microgel shell are studied through the overgrowth of the gold core