AGET ATRP of oligo(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate in inverse microemulsion

Abstract

A water soluble monomer, oligo(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate (OEOMA), was successfully polymerized in an inverse microemulsion system via the activator generated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (AGET ATRP) technique. Stable colloidal particles with a readily tunable size, ranging from ca. 35 to 200 nm, were obtained by adjusting the amount and the type of reducing agent used for the generation of activators in the AGET ATRP and by adjusting the aqueous phase fraction in the inverse microemulsion system. The formed particles contained well-defined water-soluble polymers with relatively narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n < 1.5). The introduction of a small amount of divinyl cross-linkers into the system allowed the synthesis of cross-linked hydrogel nanoparticles. The cross-linked particles retained their morphology when they were redispersed in methanol or water, as evidenced by the constant particle size determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS).