3D surface functionalization of emulsion-templated polymeric foams

Priyalakshmi Viswanathan, David W. Johnson, Claire Hurley, Neil R. Cameron, Giuseppe Battaglia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

73 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We describe the preparation of porous polymeric scaffolds via polymerization of the oil phase in high internal phase water-in-oil-emulsions using amphiphilic block copolymers polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide), polystyrene-b-poly(acrylic acid), poly(1,4-butadiene)-b-poly(ethylene oxide), and poly(1,4-butadiene)-b-poly(acrylic acid) as surfactants. We show that the block copolymers anchor to the polymerized oil phase via the lipophilic block, which can occur by chemical and/or physical entanglement and consequent presentation of the hydrophilic block on the pore surfaces. The in situ polymerization enables the full surface functionalization of the porous materials with the final surface chemistry dictated by the hydrophilic block. Furthermore, the foam physical architecture may be tailored through controlling emulsion parameters such as the initiator, shear rate, and aqueous phase volume fraction.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7091-7098
Number of pages8
JournalMacromolecules
Volume47
Issue number20
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Oct 2014
Externally publishedYes

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