Synthesis and characterization of hydrophilic and spherical poly(glycerol dimethacrylate-co-glycerol-1,3-diglycerolate diacrylate) microbeads

Abstract

A new class of spherical and swellable microbeads was obtained by a newly proposed suspension polymerization protocol. Hydrophilic monomers in the form of crosslinking agent, glycerol dimethacrylate (GDMA), and glycerol 1,3-diglycerolate diacrylate (GDGDA) were copolymerized in an aqueous suspension medium. Poly(GDMA-co-GDGDA) microbeads were highly hydrophilic due to hydroxyl functionality from both crosslinking agents. In the proposed method, the organic phase including monomers and diluent (i.e. cyclohexanol) was dispersed in an aqueous medium by using poly(vinyl alcohol) as the stabilizer. Poly(GDMA-co-GDGDA) microbeads were obtained by changing GDMA/GDGDA ratio, monomer/diluent ratio, and stirring rate. The average size and size distribution properties, microbead yields, and the equilibrium swelling behavior of the gel beads were presented. Spherical and swellable bifunctional microbeads carrying hydroxyl-carboxyl or hydroxyl-amine groups were also obtained by including amine and carboxyl carrying functional monomers, 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate, and methacrylic acid, respectively, in the suspension copolymerization proposed. Copyright © 2012 Taylor & Francis.