Controlling deposition and release of polyol-stabilized latex on boronic acid-derivatized cellulose

Poly(glycerol monomethacrylate)-stabilized polystyrene (PGMA-PS) latex particles undergo specific, pH-dependent adsorption onto regenerated cellulose film bearing surface phenylboronic acid groups (cellulose-PBA). Deposition occurs at pH 10 and is driven by the boronate ester formation with the polyol latex surface coating. In contrast, no deposition occurs at pH 4, and previously deposited particles can be readily desorbed at this lower pH. In control experiments, conventional anionic sulfate-stabilized polystyrene latex did not deposit onto the hydrophilic cellulose surface. The distribution of boronate groups in the cellulose was determined by exposure to Alizarin Red S dye, which forms a fluorescent complex with phenylboronic acid; confocal microscopy was used to determine a surface density of 3 nm(2) per boronic acid group on the cellulose surface. Although the boronic acid binding constant with PGMA is relatively low (5.4 L/mol), the cooperative interactions between multiple PBA surface sites and the many PGMA chains per latex particle are sufficient to induce specific latex adsorption, providing a convenient new tool for controlling nanoparticle deposition on surfaces.