Hydrogel Micro and Nanoparticles

The book provides experienced as well as young researchers with a topical view of the vibrant field of soft nanotechnology. In addition to
elucidating the underlying concepts and principles that drive continued innovation, major parts of each chapter are devoted to detailed discussions of potential and already realized applications of micro- and nanogel- based materials. Examples of the diverse areas impacted by these materials are biocompatible coatings for implants, films for controlled drug release, self-healing soft materials and responsive hydrogels that react to varying pH conditions, temperature or light.

List of Contributors XIII

Foreword XIX

Preface XXIII

1 Thermally Sensitive Microgels: From Basic Science to Applications 1
He Cheng and Guangzhao Zhang

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Theoretical Background 2

1.3 Basic Physics of Microgels 7

1.4 Applications 25

1.5 Conclusions 27

References 29

2 Thermosensitive Core–Shell Microgels: Basic Concepts and Applications 33
Yan Lu and Matthias Ballauff

2.1 Introduction 33

2.2 Volume Transition in Single Particles 35

2.3 Concentrated Suspensions: 3D Crystallization 40

2.4 Particles on Surfaces: 2D Crystallization 41

2.5 Concentrated Suspensions: Rheology 42

2.6 Core–Shell Particles as Carriers for Catalysts 45

2.7 Conclusion 53

References 54

3 Core–Shell Particles with a Temperature-Sensitive Shell 63
Haruma Kawaguchi

3.1 Introduction 63

3.2 Preparation of Core–Shell Particles with a Temperature-Sensitive Shell 63

3.4 Properties, Functions and Applications of Core–Shell Particles with a Temperature-Sensitive Shell 75

3.5 Conclusions 78

References 79

4 pH-Responsive Nanogels: Synthesis and Physical Properties 81

Beng Hoon Tan, Jeremy Pang Kern Tan, and Kam Chiu Tam

4.1 Introduction 81

4.2 Preparation Techniques for pH-Responsive Nanogels 82

4.3 Structural Properties of pH-Responsive Nanogels 85

4.4 Swelling of pH-Responsive Nanogels 87

4.5 Rheological Behavior of pH-Responsive Nanogels 96

4.6 Approach to Model pH-Responsive Nanogel Properties 97

4.7 Osmotic Compressibility of pH-Responsive Nanogels in Colloidal Suspensions 106

4.8 Conclusions and Future Perspectives 109

References 110

5 Poly(N-Vinylcaprolactam) Nano- and Microgels 117

Cheng Cheng and Andrij Pich

5.1 Introduction 117

5.2 Poly(N-Vinylcaprolactam): Synthesis, Structure and Properties in Solution 117

5.3 Thermal Behavior of Poly(N-Vinylcaprolactam) in Water 120

5.4 PVCL Nano- and Microgels 123

5.5 Conclusions 137

References 137

6 Doubly Crosslinked Microgels 141
Brian R. Saunders

6.1 Introduction 141

6.2 Methods of Preparation 145

6.3 Methods of Characterization 148

6.4 Morphology 155

6.5 Properties 157

6.6 Potential Applications 162

6.7 Conclusion 165

References 166

7 ATRP: A Versatile Tool Toward Uniformly Crosslinked Hydrogels with Controlled Architecture and Multifunctionality 169
Jeong Ae Yoon, Jung Kwon Oh, Wenwen Li, Tomasz Kowalewski, and Krzysztof Matyjaszewski

7.1 Incorporating Crosslinking Reactions into Controlled Radical Polymerization 169

7.2 Effect of Network Homogeneity on Thermoresponsive Hydrogel Performance 171

7.3 Gel Networks Containing Functionalized Nanopores 176

7.4 Toward Micro- and Nano-Sized Hydrogels by ATRP 180

References 184

8 Nanogel Engineering by Associating Polymers for Biomedical Applications 187
Yoshihiro Sasaki and Kazunari Akiyoshi

8.1 Introduction 187

8.2 Preparation of Associating Polymer-Based Nanogels 188

8.3 Functions of Self-Assembled Nanogels 194

8.4 Application of Polysaccharide Nanogels to DDS 197

8.5 Integration of Nanogels 199

8.6 Conclusion and Perspectives 202

References 202

9 Microgels and Biological Interactions 209
Michael H. Smith, Antoinette B. South, and L. Andrew Lyon

9.1 An Introduction to Polymer Biomaterials 209

9.2 Drug Delivery 213

9.3 Biomaterial Films 221

9.4 Conclusion 228

References 229

10 Oscillating Microgels Driven by Chemical Reactions 237
Daisuke Suzuki

10.1 Introduction 237

10.2 Types of Oscillating Microgels 238

10.3 Synthesis and Fabrication of Oscillating Microgels 240

10.4 Control of Oscillatory Behavior 241

10.5 Flocculating/Dispersing Oscillation 251

10.6 Concluding Remarks 254

References 254

11 Smart Microgel/Nanoparticle Hybrids with Tunable Optical Properties 257
Matthias Karg and Thomas Hellweg

11.1 Introduction 257

11.2 Synthesis of Hybrid Gels 258

11.3 Characterization of Hybrid Gels 260

11.4 Hybrid Microgels with Plasmon Properties 261

11.5 Photoluminescent Hybrid Microgels 269

11.6 Summary 272

References 274

12 Macroscopic Microgel Networks 281
Todd Hoare

12.1 Introduction and Motivation 281

12.2 Preparation of Microgel Networks 284

12.3 Applications of Microgel Networks 301

12.4 Conclusions and Future Outlook 310

References 311

13 Color-Tunable Poly (N-Isopropylacrylamide) Microgel-Based Etalons: Fabrication, Characterization, and Applications 317
Michael J. Serpe, Courtney D. Sorrell, Matthew C.D. Carter, Ian N. Heppner, Janelle B. Smiley-Wiens, and Liang Hu

13.1 Introduction 317

13.2 Microgel-Based Photonic Materials 319

13.3 Conclusions and Future Directions 330

References 332

14 Crystals of Microgel Particles 337
Juan José Liétor-Santos, Urs Gasser, Jun Zhou, Zhibing Hu, and Alberto Fernández-Nieves

14.1 Introduction 337

14.2 Theoretical Background and Experimental Methods 339

14.3 Determining and Modeling the Particle Form Factor 353

14.4 Structure Factor of Concentrated Suspensions 357

14.5 Final Remarks and Future Directions 365

References 366

15 Dynamical Arrest and Crystallization in Dense Microgel Suspensions 369
Priti Mohanty, Divya Paloli, Jerome Crassous, and Peter Schurtenberger

15.1 Introduction 369

15.2 Methods 372

15.3 Synthesis and Responsive Properties 374

15.4 Structural and Dynamic Properties of Neutral Microgels 379

15.5 Structural and Dynamic Properties of Soft and Weakly Charged Microgels 388

15.6 Conclusions and Outlook: Probing Anisotropic Interactions 391

References 394

Index 397

L. Andrew Lyon is Professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA. After his PhD in Physical Chemistry from Northwestern University he joined Penn State University as a postdoctoral research associate before pursuing his academic career at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Professor Lyon has authored more than 100 articles, contributed to nine books and holds seven patents. His research interests center around the development and implementation of new materials, particularly hydrogel nanoparticles, for photonics, bioanalysis, and biomimetics.. . Michael J. Serpe is Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Alberta, Canada. He did his PhD in Analytical Chemistry at the Georgia Institute of Technology and then held positions as postdoctoral fellow at the University of Melbourne, Australia, at World Precision Instruments, Inc., and at the Duke University, USA. Professor Serpe has published more than 25 articles for one of which he received an outstanding research paper award. His group is interested in studying the behavior and fundamental properties of soft, responsive, functional, polymeric materials.