Soft hydrogel particles with high functional value

We report the preparation of nano hydrogel particles with core-shell morphology as multilevel of structural modifiability resulting in enhanced functionality in the application of various fields. The multi responsive amphiphilic, pH and magnetic field sensitive polymeric particles were obtained from the modification of poly(acrylonitrile-co-1 -vinylimidazole) (p(AN-c-1-Vl)) core-shell nanoparticles. Here, we describe a new approach for a polymeric material with new tunable functionality that cannot be obtained otherwise as they do not exist in monomer forms. The polymeric particles prepared using microemulsion polymerization in core-shell morphology bearing AN core and VI shell offering a unique opportunity to induce new functional groups to the each component of p(AN-c-1-Vl) particle and its composite. Modification of nitrile (hydrophobic) groups to amidoxime (hydrophilic) groups by amidoximation reaction on AN, and quaternization of nitrogen on VI were carried out to tune the dimension, hydrophilicity and the charge of the particles. The composite p(AN-c-1-Vl) materials were prepared by encapsulating magnetic metal nanoparticles (Fe3O4) in the microemulsion during the polymerization. The potential applications of the prepared multi responsive particles were demonstrated as drug carrier, in the environment and as a catalyst. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.