Langmuir 2011-09-06

Synthesis of thermosensitive microgels with a tunable magnetic core.

Marco Laurenti, Pablo Guardia, Rafael Contreras-Cáceres, Jorge Pérez-Juste, Antonio Fernandez-Barbero, Enrique Lopez-Cabarcos, Jorge Rubio-Retama

Index: Langmuir 27(17) , 10484-91, (2011)

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Abstract

In this work, we describe a new methodology for the preparation of monodisperse and thermosensitive microgels with magnetic core. In order to produce such a material, hydrophobic magnetic Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles were prepared by two methods: thermal decomposition and coprecipitation. The surface of these nanoparticles was modified by addition of 3-butenoic acid, and after that these nanoparticles were dispersed in water and submitted to free radical polymerization at 70 °C in the presence of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and bisacrylamide. The result of this reaction was monodisperse microgels with a magnetic core. By varying the amount of 3-butenoic acid, it was possible to obtain hybrid microgels with different magnetic core sizes and different architectures.© 2011 American Chemical Society