Anion amphiphilic random copolymers and their performance as stabilizers for O/W nanoemulsions

A series of anionic amphiphilic random copolymers with sodium p-styrene sulfonate and dodecyl methacrylate side chains were synthesized via free radical polymerization and their properties in the formation and stabilization of nano-emulsions were investigated. Using poly(sodium p-styrene sulfonate)-ran-poly(dodecyl methacrylate) and Brij 30 as a stabilizer to prepare nanoemulsions, we obtained small droplet size and unimodal distribution nanoemulsions by a low-energy phase inversion composition (PIC) method. The p(SSS)-ran-p(LMA)-Brij 30 co-stabilized nanoemulsions show extraordinary long-term stability and heat resistance, there were almost no variations of droplet size after storing for 35 days and no phase inversion occurred when heating the temperature up to 90 °C. The influence of salinity on the properties of the nanoemulsions was also discussed.