Reactive Precursor Particles as Synthetic Platform for the Generation of Functional Nanoparticles, Nanogels, and Microgels

ALEXANDRA GRUBER; LUCILA NAVARRO; DANIEL KLINGER

Advanced materials interfaces

WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Año: 2019

2196-7350

Precise control of the chemical functionality of polymer nanoparticles is a keyrequirement in tailoring their (dynamic) colloidal properties toward advancedapplications. However, current synthetic techniques are still limited in theversatility of chemical design and preparation of such functional colloidalnanomaterials. Two major challenges remain: First, various particle preparationmethods are restricted in their functional group tolerance, thus hinderingcertain combinations of polymer backbones with specific functional groups.Second, the preparation of particles with different functionalities requires thesynthesis of different particle batches. But this often results in a simultaneousvariation of colloidal features. As a result, the accurate determination ofimportant structure?property relations is still hindered. To address theserestrictions, postmodification of preformed reactive particles is gainingmore attention. This technique has evolved from polymer synthesis, wherepostpolymerization functionalization enables the introduction of a plethoraof functional groups without changing the degree of polymerization and themolecular weight distribution. Similarly, modifying precursor particles enablesthe introduction of functional groups into particles while reducing variations incolloidal features, e.g., particle size and size distribution. This powerful syntheticmethod complements established procedures for functionalization of particlesurfaces, thereby enabling the facile preparation of (multi-)functional particlelibraries, which will allow precise investigations of structure?property relations.