Preparation and characterization of PEG-grafted silica particles using emulsion

Abstract

In this study, aimed at preparing PEG-grafted silica particles, PEGME-IPTES with a silane coupling agent was synthesized by the reaction of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (PEGME) with 3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl isocyanate (IPTES). The molecular weight of PEGME was varied (350, 750, or 2000). By utilizing a sol-gel method in a W/O emulsion, both spherical silica particles and PEG-grafted silica particles were obtained. The syntheses of PEGME-IPTES and the PEG-grafted silica particles were confirmed using FT-IR spectroscopy. As the molecular weight of PEGME used in the synthesis of the PEGME-IPTES precursor increased, the amount of PEG grafted onto the surface of the silica particles increased. In addition, the surface areas of the PEG-grafted silica particles were smaller than that of the bare silica particles. The surface morphologies were characterized by FE-SEM, TGA and BET surface area measurements.