Session: PMSE/POLY Poster Session:

Stimuli-responsive microgels owing to their desirable traits and a vast range of applications are being extensively studied. Besides investigating different synthesis techniques for preparing this class of microgels, various types of nanoparticles are being explored that can be incorporated in the microgels to enhance their properties. The nanoparticles can be used to introduce additional responsiveness in the microgels or act as a reinforcing agent. In this study, a new perspective to obtaining thermo-responsive poly(vinylcaprolactum) (PVCL) microgels incorporated with biodegradable and biocompatible cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) was adapted. Conventional aqueous precipitation polymerization technique was used to synthesize the PVCL-CNC microgels. Along with the preparation of small-sized microgels (~ 1 μm), larger microgels were fabricated with the size much more than 1 μm, by a fed-batch method aided with a temperature ramp. Different weight percentages of CNCs with respect to PVCL were added during the synthesis process. The findings from the various characterization techniques depict that with the increase in CNC weight percentage, incorporation of CNCs in the microgels increased irrespective of the synthesis routes. Furthermore, PVCL microgels synthesized by the fed-batch method in combination with T-ramp exhibited a higher incorporation rate of CNCs in the microgels than the conventional method. Additionally, it was observed that the surface charge of the microgels become increasingly negative with increasing CNC weight percentage. The DLS analysis indicates that the thermo-responsiveness of the microgels remains unaffected by the addition of CNCs, thereby making them an appropriate choice for functional materials for biomedical applications.

Vimal Katiyar

IIT Guwahati

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