Ambient temperature synthesis of well-defined microspheres via precipitation polymerization initiated by UV-irradiation

A novel and innovative approach to microspheres design was reported that can be readily combined with functionalization protocols including reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT), as well as atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The novel approach employs ultraviolet (UV) irradiation to initiate the polymerization at ambient temperatures. Technical grade divinyl benzene was deinhibited by percolation through a column of activated basic alumina. Depending on the particle size, particle size distributions were measured using a Malvern or a Brookhaven instrument with ethanol as electrolyte. The novel ambient temperature UV induced microspheres synthesis protocol is a facile way to arrive at variable size particles, while opening a promising avenue for protein encapsulation, which require mild reaction conditions into particles.