Issue 1, 2021

Photoactive rose bengal-based latex via RAFT emulsion polymerization-induced self-assembly

Abstract

Copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA) with a photosensitizer-based comonomer by reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization produces a reactive stabilizer for emulsion polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA). This polymerization in aqueous dispersed medium is a surfactant-free and solvent-free environmentally friendly process for the efficient design of dye-supported polymer colloids dispersed in water. Rose Bengal (RB) was selected as a photosensitizer for the synthesis of two types of comonomers (MRB), vinyl benzyl rose bengal (VBRB) and ethyl acrylate rose bengal (EARB). The effects of the structure of MRB and solvent for RAFT copolymerization with AA were investigated. While VBRB induced strong retardation in 1-4-dioxane, to a greater extent compared to EARB, such retardation was overcome in polar dimethyl sulfoxide. The high level of chain end fidelity of PAA-based macromolecular chain transfer agent, as highlighted by UV-visible spectroscopy and proton NMR spectroscopy, allowed for efficient chain extension. Self-assembled amphiphilic block copolymers synthesized by RAFT-mediated emulsion polymerization were stable, monodisperse core–shell particles of 90–100 nm diameter. The shell is a hydrophilic poly(ammonium acrylate-co-MRB) statistical copolymer and the core is a film-forming poly(alkyl acrylate) of poly(n-butyl acrylate), poly(ethyl acrylate) or poly(n-butyl acrylate-co-ethyl acrylate). A second synthetic route is proposed to label the particle core with a photosensitizer. Interfacial singlet oxygen production was monitored by the degradation of furfuryl alcohol quencher under visible light irradiation. The average quantum yield of supported rose bengal (ϕΔ = 0.64 ± 0.10) in a similar range to that of free rose bengal in water (ϕΔ = 0.76 ± 0.10) proves the photoactivity of photosensitizer-grafted waterborne latexes.

Graphical abstract: Photoactive rose bengal-based latex via RAFT emulsion polymerization-induced self-assembly

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
08 ago 2020
Accepted
12 out 2020
First published
13 out 2020

Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 134-147

Photoactive rose bengal-based latex via RAFT emulsion polymerization-induced self-assembly

C. Boussiron, M. Le Bechec, J. Sabalot, S. Lacombe and M. Save, Polym. Chem., 2021, 12, 134 DOI: 10.1039/D0PY01128B

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