Synthesis of hybrid nanogels by photopolymerization containing functionalized silsesquioxanes

GALLASTEGUI ANTONELLA.; PONZIO, RODRIGO A.; CHESTA, CARLOS A.; PALACIOS, RODRIGO E.; GÓMEZ, MARÍA L.

Mar del Plata

Congreso; XVI SIMPOSIO LATINOAMERICANO DE POLÍMEROS Y XIV CONGRESO IBEROAMERICANO DE POLÍMEROS; 2018

Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales, INTEMA (UNMdP-CONICET).

INTRODUCTION. Recently, the development of multifunctional nanoparticles with theragnostics properties has gained increase importance1. On the other hand, Silsesquioxanes are hybrid organic-inorganic materials with a structural formula of [RSiO3/2]n; they can be synthesized from organosilanes with several functionalities and present the properties of being inert and biocompatible like silica, while organic groups facilitates the incorporation of hydrophobic molecules such as dyes and drugs2. In this work, nanogels of acrylamide and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate containing different silsesquioxane precursors in their structure that act as crosslinkers were synthesized. The photoinitiator system consists of a conjugated polymer, poly (9,9-dioctylfluorenoalt-benzothiadiazol) (F8BT), in the form of a nanoparticle (NP), which has the capacity to absorb and emit radiation in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum; and to participate as an electron transfer agent, thus initiating the polymerization by visible light without a sensitizer. In addition, NPs of F8BT are retained in the hydrogel matrix after polymerization, which represents an advantage for the application of these materials in fluorescent sensing.