All aqueous multi-phase systems and emulsions formed via low concentrated ultra-high molar mass polyacrylamides

Plucinski, A., Pavlovic, M. and Schmidt, B. V.K.J. (2021) All aqueous multi-phase systems and emulsions formed via low concentrated ultra-high molar mass polyacrylamides. Macromolecules, 54(12), pp. 5366-5375. (doi: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00400)

Abstract

Aqueous multi-phase systems have attracted a broad interest in recent years, which is mainly due to their applicability in biology for purification and isolation of biomolecules and also for separation of particles as well as environment for enzymatic reactions. Here, three polyacrylamides poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide), poly(acrylamide), and poly(4-acryloylmorpholine) with ultra-high molar mass were synthesized via photo-induced reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization (Mn > 700,000 g·mol–1). The polymers were combined to form aqueous multi-phase systems with low total polymer concentration as low as 1.1 to 2.1 wt %. Furthermore, the aqueous multi-phase system could be transformed into water-in-water (w/w) emulsions, stabilized by layered double hydroxide nanoparticles. Due to the low polymer content, these aqueous multi-phase systems open up new pathways, for example, in the separation of biomolecules or the compartmentalization of aqueous environments in catalysis.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: B.V.K.J.S. and A.P. acknowledge funding from the University of Glasgow and the German Research Foundation (grant no. SCHM 3282/3-1). M.P. acknowledges financial support from the Swiss National Science Foundation with the project number P2GEP2_181528 and the Max Planck Society.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Plucinski, Alexander and Schmidt, Dr Bernhard
• Authors: Plucinski, A., Pavlovic, M., and Schmidt, B. V.K.J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: Macromolecules
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• ISSN: 0024-9297
• ISSN (Online): 1520-5835
• Published Online: 08 June 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 American Chemical Society
• First Published: First published in Macromolecules 54(12): 5366-5375
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy