Preparation and characterization of superparamagnetic functional polymeric microparticles

• Published in: China particuology Vol. 1; no. 2; pp. 76 - 79
• Main Authors: Liu, Xianqiao, Liu, Huizhou, Xing, Jianmin, Guan, Yueping, Ma, Zhiya, Shan, Guobin, Yang, Chengli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.2003; Laboratory of Separation Science and Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, P. R. China
• Subjects: characterization; magnetic fluid; preparation; Pst-DVB-GMA; suspension polymerization; magnetic fluid; characterization; Pst-DVB-GMA; suspension polymerization; preparation
• ISSN: 1672-2515
• DOI: 10.1016/S1672-2515(07)60112-2

Superparamagnetic poly(styrene-divinylbenzene-glycidyl methacrylate) (Pst-DVB-GMA) microparticles were prepared via a modified suspension polymerization process. A magnetic fluid was first prepared by a chemical co-precipitation method. Then magnetic microparticles were produced by mixing the monomers and the magnetic fluid with water in the presence of a stabilizer poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) to form a suspension, and finally benzoyl peroxide was added to initiate the co-polymerization. The morphology and magnetic properties of the microparticles were examined by TEM and VSM. The spherically shaped microparticles, with a size range of 4 to 7 μm, showed distinct superparamagnetic characteristics. XRD was used to investigate the structure of the magnetite particles dispersed in the polymer matrix. The microparticles with epoxy groups on their surface can be applied directly to the separation of biomolecules.