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Blocked Bacteria Escape by ATRP Grafting of a PMMA Shell on PVA Microparticles
Author(s) -
Knierim Christian,
Greenblatt Charles L.,
Agarwal Seema,
Greiner Andreas
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
macromolecular bioscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.924
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1616-5195
pISSN - 1616-5187
DOI - 10.1002/mabi.201300398
Subject(s) - methyl methacrylate , atom transfer radical polymerization , methacrylate , bacteria , chemistry , polymerization , grafting , poly(methyl methacrylate) , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , materials science , polymer , organic chemistry , biology , engineering , genetics
This paper reports on the preparation and characterization of living composites consisting of poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA) hydrogel microparticles with living bacteria and a shell of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The grafting of the PMMA shell is accomplished in the presence of living bacteria by surface polymerization of PMMA using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The PMMA shell prevents the uncontrolled bacterial escape from the hydrogel microparticles, which otherwise marks a major problem of these composites. The encapsulation of microparticles with living bacteria by PMMA retards bacteria escape upon contact to water for >20 d. The functionality of the PMMA shell is proven both by the release of fluorescein in buffer and an altered release time of bacteria in buffer solution.