I would like to know whether ammonium per sulfate (APS) is a good radical initiator for synthesizing PMMA nanoparticles by emulsion radical polymerisation. Or, does it have any drawbacks associated with it ? What be the ideal initiator otherwise ?
Thanks a lot for your time.
You can speed up initiation - radical production by using Fenton reaction, so hydrogen peroxide and iron 2 (just a little), adding vitamin C allows further decrease of Iron concentration, it reproduce Fe2 by reducing Fe3. Process can be performed in lower temperature and You have influence on radical production by changing iron concentration.
Hi Tomasz,
Thank you very much for your response. Is Fenton reaction can be used for synthesizing PMMA nanoparticles from MMA ? Is there any reference article for me to follow the protocol ? I will search for the articles on synthesising PMMA from fenton reacion. What is the advantage fo fenton based reaction over other radical initiators ?
Thank you so much
Fenton reactive is an alternative radical producer instead of APS(same job). Also you use KPS or ather water soluble azo-initiator. The best.
Hi, Ali is right, Fenton is just an alternative source or radicals. Advantages: operates at room temperature, You can control production rate by varying iron concentration (it should be very low), you can have very high radical production rate, unachievable by other methods (good for nano). How do You plan to produce Your nanoparticles? Some references in our paper: Fabrication of biocompatible hydrogel coatings for implantable medical devices using Fenton-type reaction, 2012, Materials Science and Engineering C, 32 (6), pp. 1601-1609, but in this case we use water insoluble peroxide, but some references are there... In this case we use vitamin C to reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+, less iron, better control. In Your case hydrogen peroxide should be OK. How do You plan to produce PMMA nanoparticles ?
(I have placed this post few days ago but something went wrong...)
Thank You So Much Ali and Tomasz for your responses.
I could understand from your suggestions that fenton reaction could be used as an alternative to APS or KPs to make PMMA nanoparticles. Fenton reaction works at room temperature and allows more production of radicals as per your suggestions.
@ Tomasz.. I plan to take monomer MMA and add radical initiator to polymerise it. I should be optimising the concentrations, temperature and the use of a surfactant to produce nanoparticles of PMMA. My objective is to encapsulate some anylates inside PMMA particles for biological applications. Do you have any suggestions on this ?
Thank you very much for your time.
Hi, Start with fluorescent agent, it is enough to trace the fate of nanoparticles in the cell. Try first with Nile Red, it is oleophylic, when You add a bit at the end of polymerisation procedure it should be encapsulated inside nanoparticles. Do You have confocal microscopy and experience to work with human cell lines?
Hi Tomasz,
Thank you for your response.
Yes, We do have a fluorescent microscope. I have experience to work with cell lines too.
So, the fluorescent dye should be added along with the initiator to the solution of monomer ? or towards the later part, sometime after the addition of the initiator to the momomer solution ?
Thanking you.
First make nanoparticles withoud the dye, then try to add dye after initiation period. I don't know exactly when, since I don't know kinetics of You reaction, depends on temperature, iron concentration, peroxide... Dye may interfere wit initiation of free radicals and radical transfer to the monomer, should be checked experimentally. First nanoparticles, then modifications... Read Principles of Polymerization by Georg Odian, pdf could be found in the internet... Let me know about results...
Thank You so much Tomasz. As you said, I will add dye little after initiation step. Will read the principles of polymerization. Will be updating you after I start the experiment. Thank you again for your guidance.
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