Colloidosomes from Peroxidized Pickering Emulsions

A new approach to synthesis of cross-linked colloidosomes (microcapsules with a shell from colloidal particles) was developed on the basis of a peroxidized Pickering emulsion (an emulsion stabilized exclusively by peroxidized colloidal particles). Peroxidized latex particles were employed to ensure formation of Pickering emulsion. Free radical polymerization was used to convert droplets of a peroxidized Pickering emulsion into colloidosomes (soft template technique). The peroxidized latex particles were synthesized with the use of amphiphilic polyperoxide copolymer poly[N-(t-butylperoxymethyl) acrylamide]-co-maleic anhydride (PMMA)applied as both initiator and surfactant (inisurf) in the emulsion polymerization process. The polymerization results in latexes with a controllable amount of peroxide and carboxyl groups (both derived from PM-MA macromolecules) at the particle surface. It was demonstrated that the structure of the synthesized (using peroxidized latex particles) colloidosomes depends on the amount of functional groups and pH during the synthesis. Thus, the size and morphology of colloidosomes can be controlled by latex particle surface properties.