Issue 43, 2013

Photo-crosslinkable, deformable PMMA colloids

Abstract

Polymeric nano- and microparticles are finding widespread applications in materials and biological science. In all preparation methods pursued to date, the chemical stability of the particles is determined by the polymer system chosen. Usually, after particle synthesis, postprocessing with the aim of changing their stability is not possible. Therefore, one only has two choices: the synthesis of crosslinked polymer particles with high solvent and heat resistance and limited formability, or the synthesis of polymer particles consisting of linear polymer chains exhibiting low stability and high formability. In this contribution, we describe a new class of colloids which combine the advantages of both particle systems. The particles are composed of linear PMMA chains which are functionalized with photo-crosslinkable moieties. After preparation, the particles can be deformed before they are crosslinked by UV illumination. This offers unique possibilities for particle modification with a broad range of possible applications. Three examples are given. First, we show that the particles can be thermo-mechanically deformed into anisotropic shapes, in which they can be locked by subsequent crosslinking. Relaxation into the thermodynamically favorable spherical shape is thus suppressed, even in harsh environments. Second, we describe how the difference in solvent stability between illuminated and non-illuminated particles can be exploited for photolithography. Third, we demonstrate how photo-crosslinked anisotropic particles can be loaded with functional compounds, e.g. fluorophores.

Graphical abstract: Photo-crosslinkable, deformable PMMA colloids

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
11 Jul 2013
Accepted
08 Sep 2013
First published
12 Sep 2013

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2013,1, 7228-7236

Photo-crosslinkable, deformable PMMA colloids

M. K. Klein, A. Zumbusch and P. Pfleiderer, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2013, 1, 7228 DOI: 10.1039/C3TC31337A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements