Volume 46, Issue 3 2400706
Research Article

Exploiting Seeded RAFT Polymerization for the Preparation of Graft Copolymer Nanoparticles

Xuesheng Tan

Xuesheng Tan

Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006 China

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Li Zhang

Corresponding Author

Li Zhang

Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006 China

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Soft Condensed Matter, Guangzhou, 510006 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

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Jianbo Tan

Corresponding Author

Jianbo Tan

Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006 China

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Soft Condensed Matter, Guangzhou, 510006 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

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First published: 27 November 2024

Abstract

Although seeded reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is explored as a unique method for the preparation of block copolymer nanoparticles with diverse structures, the preparation of nonlinear polymer nanoparticles by seeded RAFT polymerization is rarely reported. Herein, linear block copolymer nanoparticles are first prepared by RAFT dispersion copolymerization of benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) and 2-(2-(n-butyltrithiocarbonate)propionate)ethyl methacrylate (BTPEMA) with different [BzMA]/[BTPEMA] ratios, and employed as seeds for seeded RAFT polymerization of isobornyl acrylate (IBOA) to prepare graft copolymer nanoparticles with different numbers of PIBOA side chains. Comparing with linear triblock copolymers with the same chemical composition, the graft copolymers can promote the formation of higher-order morphologies (e.g., vesicles) under seeded RAFT polymerization conditions. Effects of reaction parameters on the morphology of graft copolymer nanoparticles are investigated in detail, and two morphological phase diagrams are constructed. It is expected that this study will not only expand the scope of seeded RAFT polymerization but also offer new opportunities for the preparation of unique polymer nanoparticles.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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