The surface carboxyl group of carbonaceous microspheres effects on the synthesis and structure of SiOC ceramics

In this study, C/SiOC and C/SiO₂ composites were prepared by using carbonaceous microspheres with different surface functional groups. Carbonaceous microspheres based on hydrothermal reaction of glucose contains hydroxyl group, while the surface carboxyl group increases after NaOH etching. The hydroxyl group increases the oxygen-enriched structural units of SiOC ceramics, and the C spheres are closely enwrapped in SiOC matrix after pyrolysis at 900 °C. However, the interfacial reaction of surface carboxyl with Si–OH results in the formation of cristobalite SiO₂, and C spheres are not only encased inside the SiOC matrix, but also dispersed outside of SiOC ceramics. After removal of C via calcination at 500 °C for 5 h, C/SiOC and C/SiO₂ composites are transformed into amorphous SiO₂ and cristobalite SiO₂, respectively. The thermogravimetric analysis indicates the oxidation resistance of SiOC is superior to that of C and SiO₂.     

Chitosan Microspheres as Carriers for pH‐Indicating Species in Corrosion Sensing

Chitosan microspheres containing bromocresol green, cresol red, and phenolphthalein for corrosion detection, through pH change, are synthesized in order to be used in protective coatings for aluminium alloys. Microspheres containing corrosion detection species are characterized morphologically (SEM) and physico‐chemically (FTIR, TGA). Release studies (UV–vis) are performed in corrosion‐promoting conditions (pH, NaCl), and detection studies by immersion in media associated with corrosion activity while microspheres' sensing activity is evaluated visually. Electrochemical characterization of AA2024 substrates in the presence of chitosan spheres is performed to understand material performance, and a color change is observed as a result of local pH increase in cathodic areas when corrosion takes place. These findings can be correlated with the results from release studies and seem a promising approach for corrosion sensing purposes, not only because pH increase is possible to detect due to corrosion, but also because chitosan is considered an environmentally friendly material.     

Novel one-step route for synthesizing sub-micrometer PSt hollow spheres via redox interfacial-initiated method in inversed emulsion

Interfacial-initiated polymerization of styrene (St) was carried out in inversed emulsion with cumene hydroperoxide (CHPO) and ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄)/disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (NaEDTA)/sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate (SFS) as the redox initiation system. The water-soluble Fe²⁺-NaEDTA-SFS acted as the reducing component and the oil-soluble CHPO as the oxidant component of the redox initiation system. Therefore, the primary radicals were produced mainly at the oil/water interface to initiate the polymerization of St. Thus, sub-micrometer hollow polystyrene (PSt) spheres were obtained by one-stage polymerization, which was supported by the techniques of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM).     

Effects of Heat Treatment Temperature and Time on Structure and Static Magnetic Property of W-type Ferrite Hollow Mierospheres

Hollow spheres of hexagonal ferrite BaCozFelrO27 were fabricated through a spray pyrolysis technique using co-precipitation ferrite powder precursor as materials, followed by calcinations in an air atmosphere. The phase composition, micro-morphology, and static magnetic property of the particles were measured by XRD, SEM, and VSM. The results indicate that the method for preparation of ferrite hollow microspheres （FHM） results in a broad particles size distribution. The density of FHM decreased from 5.31 g/ cm^3 to 2.31 g/cm^3. When the heating rate was 5℃/min, and temperature was 1 200℃ for 4 hours, pure W-type ferrites were formed. With the heat treatment temperature and time increasing, the crystal structure becomes perfect, the saturation magnetization is increased and the coercive force is decreased.     

Synthesis of silver/polymer colloidal composites from surface-functional porous polymer microspheres

This study presents a different colloidal silver (Ag)/polymer system where Ag nanoparticles are deposited uniformly onto surface-functional porous poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate-co-acrylonitrile) (poly(EGDMA-co-AN)) microspheres. The formation and morphology of the composite microspheres were characterized from electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses. The significance of the present report is that owing to the high affinity between Ag and nitrile group (CN) on the large surface of the microspheres, the Ag nanoparticles having a face-centered cubic phase were incorporated evenly into the deep pores of the microspheres with fine size and size distribution. In the preservation test, the Ag/poly(EGDMA-co-AN) composite microspheres obtained showed an excellent anti-bacterial performance, elucidating a high applicability for a new preservative.     

石蜡聚苯乙烯微球的制备

通过悬浮聚合技术合成了石蜡聚苯乙烯微球，研究了合成过程中引发剂浓度及交联剂用量对微球粒径及其分布的影响。     

Preparation of DNA-encapsulated polyethersulfone hollow microspheres for organic compounds and heavy metal ions removal

DNA-encapsulated polyethersulfone (PES) hollow microspheres are fabricated by means of a liquid-liquid phase separation technique; the hollow microspheres are then used to remove environmental pollutant organic compounds and heavy metal ions. The amounts of DNA encapsulated in the microspheres are dependent on the PES concentration, the DNA concentration used to prepare the particles, and the diameter of the syringe needle. The hollow microspheres can be used to remove harmful organic compounds including ethidium bromide (EB), acridine orange (AO) and endocrine disruptors. With the increase of the DNA amount encapsulated into the hollow microspheres, the removal ratios of these compounds increased. Additionally, the DNA-encapsulated PES hollow microspheres can selectively accumulate and remove heavy metal ions such as Ag⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ These results suggested that the DNA-encapsulated PES hollow microspheres have a potential to be used in environmental applications.     

Synthesis and characterization of modified chitosan microspheres: Effect of the grafting ratio on the controlled release of nifedipine through microspheres

The grafting of acrylamide onto a chitosan backbone was carried out at three acrylamide concentrations (polymer/monomer ratio = 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3). The synthesis of the grafted polymer was achieved by K₂S₂O₈‐induced free‐radical polymerization. Microspheres of polyacrylamide‐g‐chitosan crosslinked with glutaraldehyde were prepared to encapsulate nifedipine (NFD), a calcium channel blocker and an antihypertensive drug. The microspheres of polyacrylamide‐g‐chitosan were produced by a water‐in‐oil emulsion technique with three different concentrations of glutaraldehyde as the crosslinking agent. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterize the grafted copolymers, and the microspheres were prepared from them. FTIR and DSC were also used to analyze the extent of crosslinking. The microspheres were characterized by the particle size; the water transport into these microspheres, as well as the equilibrium water uptake, were studied. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the spherical nature of the particles, which had a mean particle size of 450 μm. Individual particle dynamic swelling experiments suggested that with an increase in crosslinking, the transport became case II. The release of NFD depended on the crosslinking of the network and on the amount of drug loading. Calculating the drug diffusion coefficients with the initial time and later time approximation method further supported this. The drug release in all 27 formulations followed case II transport, and this suggested that the time dependence of the NFD release followed zero‐order kinetics. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 2940–2949, 2003     

Preparation of superparamagnetic immunomicrospheres and application for antibody purification

A novel and effective protocol for the preparation of superparamagnetic immunomicrospheres has been developed. First, micro‐size magnetic poly (methacrylate‐divinylbenzene) (PMA‐DVB) spheres were prepared by a modified suspension polymerization method. The oleic acid coated magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles made by coprecipitation were mixed with monomers of MA, DVB, and initiator benzoyl peroxide (BPO) to form oil in water emulsion droplets with the presence of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA‐1788) as a stabilizer. The polymerization reaction was carried out in a 2‐L beaker equipped with four vertical stainless steel baffleplates by increasing the temperature of the mixture at a controlled rate. The resulting magnetic microspheres are micro‐sized (less than 8μm in diameter) and 80 percent of them are in the size ranging from 1 to 5 μm. Then, they were highly functionalized via ammonolysis reaction with ethylenediamine, and the surface amino‐modified magnetic microspheres were obtained. The morphology and properties of these magnetic microspheres were examined by SEM, TEM, VSM, and FT‐IR. Affinity ligand protein A (ProtA) was covalently immobilized to the amino‐modified magnetic microspheres by the glutaraldehyde method. These ProtA‐immobilized magnetic immunomicrospheres were effective for affinity bioseparation processes, as was demonstrated by the efficient immunoaffinity purification of antibodies IgG2a (22mg per gram of microspheres) from mouse ascites. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 2205–2211, 2004