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Here, novel methods to encapsulate magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) into dual-stimuli-responsive nanogels via covalent bonding are reported. With the aim of strengthening the attachment of MNPs with the nanogels, primary amine- and epoxide-functionalized stimuli-sensitive poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDEAEMA)-based nanogels were firstly synthesized. Then, MNPs were incorporated into the nanogels by using different methods, obtaining different families of magnetic nanogels (MNGs). Those MNGs, showing pH-sensitivity and high superparamagnetic response, could be considered to be widely useful as theranostic agents in biomedical applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017

The synthesis, characterization, and potential application as gene delivery systems of biodegradable dual-responsive core–shell nanogels based on poly(2-diethylaminoethyl) methacrylate (PDEAEMA) and poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) are reported. These core–shell nanogels, having a PDEAEMA-based core and a PVCL-based shell, were synthesized by batch seeded emulsion polymerization. An indepth study of their swelling behavior was carried out, which presented a dual-dependent thermo- and pH sensitivity. Core–shell nanogels synthesized formed complexes spontaneously through electrostatic interactions when mixing with small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules. Moreover, the core–shell nanogel/siRNA complexes showed higher polyanion exchange resistance compared to that of the PDEAEMA-based nanogel/siRNA complexes, indicating that the PVCL-based shell enhanced the stability of the complexes. In vitro siRNA release profiles showed that siRNA release was controlled by the pH of the medium as well as by the crosslinking density of the PVCL-based shell. These results indicate that dual-responsive core–shell nanogels synthesized could be potentially useful as gene delivery systems. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016.

A thorough understanding of the morphology of the environmental sensitive nanogels was indispensable to obtain a deeper insight on their stimuli-responsive behavior. Therefore, in this work the colloidal characterization and the study of the inner morphology were related by using light scattering technique and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance transverse relaxation measurements combined with the Flory–Rehner theory. Different biocompatible and dual-stimuli-sensitive nanogel particles based on poly(2-diethylaminoethyl) methacrylate were synthesized using three different crosslinkers: two bifunctional and one multifunctional. All the nanogels obtained had a core–shell type heterogeneous morphology, but they presented completely different swelling behaviors due to their different crosslinking points’ distribution and polymeric chains’ microstructure. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 2017–2025

Three types of poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)-based temperature-sensitive microgel particles were synthesized by emulsion polymerization. The uptake of a model drug (calcein) into the particles was analyzed in terms of the amount of calcein absorbed and equilibrium–swelling degree. By incubating the microgels with primary neuronal cell cultures of embrionary rats, cell viability and biocompatibility tests were carried out. The results show that the driving force for the model drug to penetrate into the microgel particles is H-bonding associations. On the other hand, cell death was microgel concentration and incubation period dependent. Microgels can be stored in a dried state and resuspended in water when necessary without changing their swelling–deswelling ability. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1173–1181, 2010

The noncommercial functional monomer 4-vinylbenzyl hydrazine (VBH) was synthesized and subsequently copolymerized with styrene (St) by means of dif ferent batch and semicontinuous seeded emulsion polymerization processes, so as to obtain hydrazine-functionalized nanoparticles. The effect of pH, surfactant and initiator amounts, ratio VBH/St, reaction temperature, and ratio acetone/water were studied. Due to the amphiphilic character of VBH at acid pH, the hydrazine groups of the functionalized comonomer were masked with acetone to form hydrazone groups. Secondary nucleations were avoided by using the protected VBH comonomer; however, a decreased radical efficiency achieving limited conversion was observed. Controlling the cationic initiator concentration, complete conversions together with the neat growth of the seed particles were obtained in the semicontinuous seeded emulsion polymerization of styrene and VBH protected with acetone. .

Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) is well known for its thermoresponsive behavior in aqueous solutions. PVCL combines useful and important properties; it is biocompatible polymer with the phase transition in the region of physiological temperature (32–38 °C). This combination of properties allows consideration of PVCL as a material for design biomedical devices and use in drug delivery systems. In this work, PVCL based temperature-sensitive crosslinked particles (microgels) were synthesized in a batch reactor to analyze the effect of the crosslinker, initiator, surfactant, temperature, and VCL concentration on polymerization process and final microgels characteristics. The mean particle diameters at different temperatures and the volume phase-transition temperature of the final product were analyzed. To obtain information about the inner structure of microgel particles, semicontinuous polymerizations were carried out and the evolution of the hydrodynamic average particle diameters at different temperatures of the microgel synthesized was investigated. In the case of microgel particles obtained in a batch reactor the size and the swelling-de-swelling behavior as a function of the temperature of the medium can be tuned by modulating the reaction variables. When the microgel particles were synthesized in a semibatch reactor different swelling-de-swelling behaviors were observed depending on particles inner structure. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2510–2524, 2008

New microgel particles produced by using N-vinylcaprolactam (VCL) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) or N,N′-methylenbisacrylamide (BA) were synthesized in a batch reactor. The influence of the concentration and type of crosslinker on polymerization kinetics and colloidal characteristics of such temperature-sensitive particles was studied. The partial and total conversion evolutions of VCL, PEGDA, and BA were determined by quantitative 1H NMR and the average diameters of microgel particles together with the swelling–deswelling behavior were analyzed by means of photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). Partial and total conversions, final average diameters at collapsed state, and the swelling–deswelling behavior varied as a function of the type of crosslinker. These results were attributed to the higher solubility and stabilizing ability of PEGDA compared with that of BA. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2766–2775, 2008

An in-depth study on the kinetics of the cationic emulsion polymerization of styrene in a batch reactor is presented. This study is focused on the effect of the amount of the cationic surfactant dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), using two different cationic initiators: 2,2′-azobisisobutyramidine dihydrochloride (AIBA), 2,2′-azobis (N,N′-dimethyleneisobutyramidine) dihydrochloride (ADIBA), on kinetics and colloidal features such as conversion, number of particles, number average of radicals per particle, mean particle diameter, and particle size distribution (PSD) of the polystyrene latices obtained by emulsion polymerization in a batch reactor. Furthermore, the results of the cationic emulsion polymerization were compared with its homologous anionic case. Using DTAB as cationic surfactant an expected increase in the total rate of polymerization was observed when the DTAB concentration increased. However, the total number of particles increased much more than in the anionic system. On the other hand, a dependence on the particle size of the rate of polymerization per particle together with the average number of radicals per particle was found. These differences between cationic and anionic emulsion polymerizations were explained taking into account the limited particle coagulation observed with cationic surfactants, and the high rate of radical formation of cationic initiators. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4461–4478, 2006

A water-based magnetite ferrofluid, with an average size of about 10 nm, was prepared in a first step by the chemical coprecipitation of ferrous and ferric salts. Oil-based styrene (St) magnetite ferrofluid was obtained by the acidification of the water-based magnetite ferrofluid and the dispersion of the acidified magnetite in St. Magnetic polymeric composite particles (MPCPs) were prepared by miniemulsion polymerization in the presence of the oil-based St magnetite ferrofluid with hexadecane as a hydrophobe, 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator, and sodium dodecyl sulfate as an emulsifier. Methacrylic acid was used as a comonomer, and hydroxyethyl cellulose and polyvinylpyrrolidone were used as aid stabilizers subsequently. With the aim of improving the encapsulation degree of magnetite, avoiding pure polymer particles and exposed magnetite particles, and obtaining the narrowest particle size distributions, the encapsulation conditions of magnetite were investigated in detail. The results show that miniemulsion polymerization is an effective method for encapsulating magnetite into a hydrophobic polymer successfully. Exposed magnetite particles and pure polymer particles can be avoided completely by the selection of the appropriate preparation conditions. All the resulting MPCPs exhibited superparamagnetism and possessed some magnetic response. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4187–4203, 2006

The synthesis of new polymer colloids based on renewable resources, such as sugar-derived monomers, is nowadays a matter of interest. These new polymeric particles should be useful in biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, because of their assumed biodegradability. In this work, two new families of polymer latex particles, based on a sugar-derived monomer, 3-O-methacryloyl-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose (3-MDG), were produced and characterized. The syntheses of poly(3-MDG) crosslinked particles and those obtained by copolymerization with methacrylic acid (MAA), poly(3-MDG-co-MAA) crosslinked particles, were prepared by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization in a batch reactor. The average particle diameter evolutions, the effect of pH of the dispersion medium on the final average diameters, together with the microscopic and morphological analysis of the particle's surface and inner dominium, were analyzed. Poly(3-MDG-co-EGDMA) stable particles were obtained by adding low amounts of initiator. The surface-charge density of these particles corresponded to the sulfate groups coming from the initiator. In the second family of latices, poly(3-MDG-co-MAA-co-EGDMA) particles, DCP measurements and SEM and TEM observations showed that the sizes and surface characteristics depended on the amounts of MAA and crosslinker used in the reaction mixture. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 443–457, 2006

Monodisperse latex particles with different amounts of surface amino and amidine groups were synthesized by means of a semicontinuous seeded cationic emul- sion polymerization of styrene and a cationic monomer. High partial overall conver- sions for styrene and limited ones for the cationic monomer were achieved. A reliable method for the quantification of surface amidine and amino groups was developed. It was found that the amount of surface amidine groups provided by the cationic initia- tor was higher when the amount of cationic monomer added increased. The value for the partition coefficient of the cationic monomer indicated that this polymerizes with the same probability in the water phase as in the particle. The colloidal stability, in terms of critical coagulation concentration, shows that the latexes would be useful as polymeric supports in immunoassays. V C 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3878-3886, 2005

The objective of this work was to analyze the effects of the concentration and type of cationic surfactant on the kinetic features (instantaneous and overall conversions) and colloidal characteristics (mean particle diameter, particle size distri- bution (PSD), and surface charge density) in the semicontinuous seeded cationic emul- sion polymerization of styrene. 2,2-Azobis(N,N-dimethyleneisobutyramidine)di- hydrochloride was used as an initiator. The surfactants were dodecyltrimethylammo- nium bromide (DTAB) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTAB). So that the evolution of some polymeric and colloidal characteristics of the synthesized latices could be followed, the overall and instantaneous conversions were defined and deter- mined gravimetrically. The PSDs and average particle diameters were determined by transmission electron microscopy and photon correlation spectroscopy. The surface charge density was determined by conductimetric titration. The evolution of the in- stantaneous conversions, the total number of particles, and the PSDs of the different reactions were related to the nucleation, growth, and coagulation processes taking place in the semicontinuous seeded emulsion polymerizations. The PSDs obtained from the reactions carried out with the emulsifier DTAB, at a concentration equal to its critical micelle concentration (cmc) and at a concentration twice its cmc, presented more and smaller particles than those obtained by the addition of HDTAB to the polymerization recipe. At lower emulsifier concentrations equal to half of the cmc, the system had lower colloidal stability with DTAB. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2322-2334, 2003

New diblock macromonomers were used as reactive emulsifiers in the emulsion polymerization of styrene. The nature of the reactive group, the molecular weight, the length of the poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block, and the molecular structure of the macromonomer were systematically investigated during this process by analyzing the evolution of the conversion and particle diameters. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2819–2827, 2002

Cationic latex particles with surface amino groups were prepared by a multistep batch emulsion polymerization. In the first one or two steps, monodisperse cationic latex particles to be used as the seed were synthesized, and in the third step, two different amino-functionalized monomers [aminoethylmethacrylate hydrochloride (AEMH) and vinylbenzylamine hydrochloride (VBAH)] were used to synthesize the final functionalized latex particles. 2,2′-Azobisisobutyramidine dihydrochloride was used as the initiator, and different concentrations of two quaternary ammonium emulsifiers with hydrophobic chains of different lengths were examined. To characterize the final latexes yields were obtained gravimetrically, and particle size distributions and average particle diameters were determined by transmission electron microscopy and photon correlation spectroscopy. The amount of amino groups was determined by fluorimetry. The effect of the amino-functional monomer used on the final latexes and the colloidal behavior of the system were studied. The influence of the different conditions utilized to synthesize the latexes on the colloidal stability of the particles was evaluated in terms of the Fuchs stability ratio and electrophoretic mobility. High yields of the amino-functional monomers were obtained. Surface amino, amidine, and quaternary ammonium groups provided the cationic character. The colloidal stability behavior of the products obtained was compatible with their cationic character. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2929–2936, 2001

Macromonomers were synthesized by anionic living polymerization. They comprised a poly(ethylene oxide) hydrophilic block and a hydrophobic block or sequence terminated with an unsaturation. The surface activity properties of these materials (critical micelle concentration and parking area) were determined, and the values were compared and discussed in terms of the molecular structure of these new surfactants. Some of the macromonomers were employed as emulsifiers in two-step emulsion polymerizations. The data obtained were discussed while taking into account the different chemical structures of the macromonomers and the efficiency of these species as emulsifiers in the polymerization recipes.

Monodisperse latex particles with surface amino groups were prepared by a two-step emulsion polymerization. In the first step, the seeds were synthesized by batch emulsion polymerization of styrene; and in the second step, two different amino-functionalized monomers [aminoethylmethacrylate hydrochloride (AEMH) and vinylbenzylamine hydrochloride (VBAH)], two different initiator systems (K2S2O8 and K2S2O8/Na2S2O5) and mixtures of emulsifiers sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and Tween 21 were used to synthesize the final latexes. To characterize the final latexes, conversions were obtained gravimetrically and particle size distributions and average particle diameters were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). The amount of amino groups was determined by the SPDP (N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate) method. The influence of the different conditions used to synthesize the latexes on the colloidal stability of the particles was evaluated by measuring the diameters of the final latexes dispersed in solutions at different pHs and ionic strengths. The most stable latexes were obtained using the smallest seed, VBAH monomer, and the K2S2O8/Na2S2O5 initiator system. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4230–4237, 2000

Monodisperse polymer colloids with dimethyl and diethyl acetal functionalities were synthesized by a two-step emulsion polymerization process. The first step consisted of a batch emulsion homopolymerization of styrene (St). The dimethyl and diethyl acetal functionalities were obtained by batch emulsion terpolymerization of St, methacrylic acid (MAA), and methacrylamidoacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal (MAAMA) or methacrylamidoacetaldehyde diethyl acetal (MAADA) in the second step, onto the previously formed polystyrene latex particles. The latexes were characterized by TEM and conductimetric titration, in order to obtain the particle size distribution and the amount of carboxyl and acetal groups on the surface, respectively. The chemical stability of the functionalized surface groups during the storage time was analyzed. The hydrophilic character of the surface of the polymer particles was determined by means of nonionic emulsifier titration. The colloidal stability of the synthesized latexes was studied by measuring the critical coagulation concentration (CCC) against KBr electrolyte, and the existence of a hairy layer on the surface of the latex particles was analyzed by measuring the hydrodynamic particle diameter at several electrolyte concentrations. The surface functionalized groups remained stable for 2 years. The relative hydrophilic character and the colloidal stability were affected by the pH of the medium. On the other hand, the higher the surface charge, the larger the thickness of the hairy layer.

The synthesis of core-shell type polystyrene monodisperse particles with surface acetal groups was carried out by a two-step emulsion polymerization process. In a first step, the core was synthesized by batch emulsion polymerization of styrene (St), and in the second step, the shell was polymerized by batch emulsion terpolymerization of styrene, methacrylic acid (MAA), and methacrylamidoacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal (MAAMA), using the seed obtained previously. With the aim of analyzing the effect of the thickness of the shell, the pH of the reaction medium and the weight ratio of the termonomers to prepare the shell, on the amount of the functionalized groups, several core-shell type latex particles were synthesized by two-step emulsion polymerization in a batch reactor. The latexes were characterized by TEM and conductimetric titration to obtain the particle size distribution and the amount of carboxyl and acetal groups on the surface, respectively. Looking for the applicability of the synthesized latexes in immunoassays, IgG a-CRP rabbit antibody was covalently bonded to the surface of the particles synthesized in neutral medium. The complex latex-protein was immunologically active against the CRP antigen. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1605–1610, 1997

The effect of the monomer/water ratio on the rate of polymerization per polymer particle in both seeded emulsion polymerizations and miniemulsion polymerizations was used in an attempt to elucidate the main locus of radical formation in emulsion polymerization initiated by an oil-soluble initiator (AIBN). It was found that, for the rest of conditions constant, the polymerization rate per polymer particle increased when the monomer/water ratio increased, namely when the amount of initiator dissolved in the aqueous phase per polymer particle decreased. This is an evidence against a dominant aqueous phase formation of radicals. On the other hand, these results are consistent with a mechanism in which the radicals are mainly produced in the oil-phase with significant aqueous phase termination.

A mathematical model for the time evolution of both number-average molecular weight and weight-average molecular weight is described. The model results in a set of ordinary differential equations and its application is not limited by the maximum number of radicals per particle. The model was used to analyze the effect of the monomer molar ratio in the initial charge on the weight-average molecular weight during the emulsion copolymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate in a batch reactor. Good agreement between experimental results and model predictions was achieved

A model is presented for the simulation of the structuration of polymer particles under conditions in which the new polymer chains are compatible with the polymer previously formed. The model involves the calculation of the monomer concentration gradients within the particles due to discrepancies in thermodynamic interactions between the monomer and the different polymers present in each part of the polymer particle. In addition, the distribution of free radicals in the latex particle is taken into account. This distribution results from the anchoring of the hydrophilic end-group of the growing polymer chain on the surface of the particle. The model was applied to the simulation of the polymerization of vinyl acetate on a butyl acrylate–vinyl acetate copolymer seed. It was found that the development of the particle morphology was mainly due to the profile of concentration of radicals in the particle. On the other hand, the effect of the monomer–polymer thermodynamic interactions on the particle morphology was found to be negligible. However, it has to be pointed out that this is because, for the system studied, the interaction parameters of vinyl acetate with polyvinyl acetate and polybutyl acrylate are nearly identical.