Open AccessControl of cationic nanogel PEGylation in heterogeneous ARGET ATRP emulsion polymerization with PEG macromonomers
Author(s) -
Spencer David S.,
Luu Bryan C.,
Beckman David W.,
Peppas Nicholas A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of polymer science part a: polymer chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.768
H-Index - 152
eISSN - 1099-0518
pISSN - 0887-624X
DOI - 10.1002/pola.29035
Subject(s) - nanogel , cationic polymerization , pegylation , polymer chemistry , monomer , chemistry , polymerization , emulsion polymerization , peg ratio , radical polymerization , chemical engineering , materials science , polymer , organic chemistry , drug delivery , polyethylene glycol , finance , engineering , economics
Crosslinked cationic nanoscale networks with hydrophobic cores are an environmentally robust alternative to self‐assembled polymeric drug delivery carriers with respect to therapeutic encapsulation and stability to dilution. However, the ability to tune the degree of PEG incorporated into nanogels during synthesis is more challenging. In this work, biodegradable cationic nanogels were synthesized by ARGET ATRP emulsion polymerization in a single step. The density of PEG in the final nanogels ranged from zero to 40 wt % and was dependent on the feed concentration of PEG monomer, surfactant concentration, surfactant hydrophilic–lipophilic balance, and the ratio of cationic to nonionic surfactant. A comprehensive analysis of nanogel material properties as a function of PEG graft density is presented including analysis of composition, monomer conversion, thermal properties, size, surface charge, and degradation. This study provides a robust analysis for the synthesis of degradable cationic nanogels via a controlled radical polymerization with predictable degrees of PEGylation. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56 , 1536–1544