Novel surface modification and characterization of functional core poly (divinylbenzene) microspheres via controlled/living polymerization techniques

Abstract

Functional polymeric microspheres are of significant scientific interest because these particles have high potential in biomedical applications. Additional functionality of the microspheres can be achieved by grafting functional polymers from the surface of the particles. Li and Stöver reported the preparation of highly crosslinked poly(divinylbenzene) microspheres by precipitation polymerization. In this study we apply reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT), anionic ring opening polymerization (AROP) to graft variety of monomers. Residual double bonds on the surface and in the particle allow for the direct application of RAFT and AROP. Since the grafted polymeric chains are difficult to cleave from the surface, it is difficult to obtain quantitative surface information by conventional characterization techniques (e.g. size exclusion chromatography). In this study we introduce the application of radioisotope labeling to characterize polymer surfaces (e.g. quantification of available active groups on the surface).