In situ functionalization of highly porous polymer microspheres with silver nanoparticles via bio-inspired chemistry

This study introduces a simple method to functionalize porous polymer microspheres with in situ synthesis of metal nanoparticles via mussel-inspired polydopamine chemistry. Highly open porous poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microspheres are prepared by a single oil-in-water emulsion solvent evaporation technique using Pluronic F127 as an extractable porogen. The internal pore surfaces of the prepared microspheres are coated with polydopamine via the oxidative polymerization of dopamines in an aqueous solution. The deposited polydopamine mediates the spontaneous reduction of silver nitrates into solid silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) within the pores of the prepared microspheres, resulting in porous PMMA microspheres decorated with Ag NPs. Anti-bacterial experiments show that the Ag NP-decorated PMMA microspheres can be used as an excellent anti-bacterial platform. This study suggests that highly open porous microspheres can be used as a template to synthesize functional metal-polymer hybrid materials using the mussel-inspired polydopamine chemistry in an aqueous solution under ambient conditions.