Multilobe morphology: the secret of biphasic nanogels for dual-task

SONZOGNI, ANA S.; GONZALEZ, VERÓNICA D.G.; MINARI, ROQUE J.

Simposio; Virtual International Symposium on Nano/Microgels; 2020

Biphasic polymeric particles present the opportunity to reach specific characteristics by positive combining the properties of each phase and avoiding their drawbacks. This characteristic opens a wide range of applications for biphasic polymer particles, which increased interest in these kinds of materials. The performance of biphasic latex particles is directly governed by their phase composition and morphology.In the case of nanogels (NGs), numerous synthesis strategies were implemented to expand NGs properties by adding different functionalities, inorganic compounds or natural polymers. However, the synthesis of two-phase polymer-polymer NGs which expanded functionalities has not been highly exploited.Recently, we reported the synthesis of biphasic NGs based on poly(Nvinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) by semibatch strategy in one pot. This system offers the opportunity of combining the high loading capacity and thermoresponsivity of NGs with the delivery capability and occlusion effect obtained from a macro-film platform, which could be previously formed or directly casted onto the surface where the release is required (i.e., in situ formed). These bifunctional NGs presented a core shell morphology with an internal phase of crosslinked PVCL and a shell composed by a low Tg copolymer including butyl acrylate. Since NGs success in controlled release applications is related with large exposed surface area, the presence of a hydrophobic continuous shell in biphasic NGs could alter, or even prevent, the mass transfer of cargo molecules. But, nevertheless, it has been demonstrated that films obtained from these biphasic NGs presented a high ability to deliver an antigen protein past the human skin stratum corneum, reaching the epidermis, resulting in a very interesting system.