Issue 3, 2008

In situ characterization of gas-filled microballoons using soft X-ray microspectroscopy

Abstract

In this study we describe the first direct, real-space characterization of a novel type of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) based microballoons in aqueous environment using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM). From the oxygen K-edge near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectra taken from the microballoon interiors we could unambiguously distinguish between water- and air-filled particles. We also demonstrate that STXM imaging below and above the O K-edge (520 eV and 550 eV) can provide unique information on the composition of microballoons in water. It was found that the particular microballoon system investigated here has a remarkable high stability and is able to contain gases for more than 6 months, making it well suited for biomedical applications.

Graphical abstract: In situ characterization of gas-filled microballoons using soft X-ray microspectroscopy

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
08 Oct 2007
Accepted
23 Nov 2007
First published
09 Jan 2008

Soft Matter, 2008,4, 510-514

In situ characterization of gas-filled microballoons using soft X-ray microspectroscopy

G. Tzvetkov, B. Graf, P. Fernandes, A. Fery, F. Cavalieri, G. Paradossi and R. H. Fink, Soft Matter, 2008, 4, 510 DOI: 10.1039/B715392A

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