Poly(glycerol monomethacrylate)-encapsulated upconverting nanoparticles prepared by miniemulsion polymerization: morphology, chemical stability, antifouling properties and toxicity evaluation

0579125 - ÚMCH 2024 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Vasylyshyn, Taras - Patsula, Vitalii - Filipová, Marcela - Konefal, Rafal - Horák, Daniel
Poly(glycerol monomethacrylate)-encapsulated upconverting nanoparticles prepared by miniemulsion polymerization: morphology, chemical stability, antifouling properties and toxicity evaluation.
Nanoscale Advances. Roč. 5, č. 24 (2023), s. 6979-6989. ISSN 2516-0230. E-ISSN 2516-0230
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA21-04420S; GA MŠMT LX22NPO5102
Institutional support: RVO:61389013
Keywords : luminescence * upconversion * nanoparticles
OECD category: Polymer science
Impact factor: 4.7, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2023/NA/D3NA00793F

In this report, upconverting NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ nanoparticles (UCNPs) were synthesized by high-temperature coprecipitation of lanthanide chlorides and encapsulated in poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) (PGMMA). The UCNP surface was first treated with hydrophobic penta(propylene glycol) methacrylate phosphate (SIPO) to improve colloidal stability and enable encapsulation by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer miniemulsion polymerization (RAFT) of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) in water, followed by its hydrolysis. The resulting UCNP-containing PGMMA particles (UCNP@PGMMA), hundreds of nanometers in diameter, were thoroughly characterized by transmission (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), infrared (FTIR) and fluorescence emission spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in terms of particle morphology, size, polydispersity, luminescence, and composition. The morphology, typically raspberry-like, depended on the GMA/UCNP weight ratio. Coating of the UCNPs with hydrophilic PGMMA provided the UCNPs with antifouling properties while enhancing chemical stability and reducing the cytotoxicity of neat UCNPs to a non-toxic level. In addition, it will allow the binding of molecules such as photosensitizers, thus expanding the possibilities for use in various biomedical applications.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0348414