Synthesis and characterization of β-CD-coated polystyrene microspheres by γ-ray radiation emulsion polymerization

Polystyrene (PS) microspheres coated with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) were fabricated via γ-ray-induced emulsion polymerization in a ternary system of styrene/β-CD/water (St/β-CD/water). The solid inclusion complex of St and β-CD particles formed at the St droplets-water interface can stabilize the emulsion as the surfactant. TEM and XPS results showed that β-CD remains on the surface of PS particles. The average size of the PS particles increases from 186 to 294 nm as the weight ratio of β-CD to St rises from 5% to 12.5%. The water contact angle (CA) of PS latex film is lower than 90°, and reduces with the β-CD content even to 36°. Thus, this work provides a new and one-pot strategy to surface hydrophilic modification on hydrophobic polymer particles with cyclodextrins through radiation emulsion polymerization.