synthesis of pmma latex nanoparticles containing different functional groups by emulsion polymerization for development of photoswitchable spiropyran polymer nanoparticles

Abstract synthesis of latex nanoparticles containing different functional groups such as carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, amine, amide, epoxy and, etc. is a significant challenge in polymer science. in this study, the functionalized pmma nanoparticles were synthesized by emulsion copolymerization. investigation of particle size and morphology of the nanoparticles by dls and fesem analyses displayed that both of them can be influenced by polarity of functional groups. rise of the polarity or hydrophilicity of the functional groups was resulted to increase of particle size from 48 nm (in the case of butyl acrylate) to 597 nm (in the case of carboxylic acid). the functionalized polymer nanoparticles are useful for the development of photoluminescent nanoparticles by physical modification with fluorescent and photochromic organic compounds such as spiropyran and oxazolidine.