@article{bc63376771ed42e99c1064c33d14b97e,
title = "One-pot synthesis of an emulsion-templated hydrogel-microsphere composite with tunable properties",
abstract = "The development of composite hydrogels is enjoying ever-increasing research interests and applications due to the high flexibility of these materials in composition and properties. This study develops an emulsion-templated hydrogel-microsphere composite with tunable properties using a one-pot synthetic approach. The composite consists of poly(trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate) microspheres crosslinked by a hydrogel, which is formed by a starch-based bifunctional emulsion stabilizer. Composites with a higher compositional ratio of the hydrogel have been found to have lower erosion susceptibility and swelling capacity. As an illustration of the unique practical potential of its amphiphilic character and tunable swelling properties, as well as its large surface area for adsorption, the composite has been loaded with model compounds with various degrees of hydrophilicity, and has been shown to be useful for applications such as drug loading and pollutant removal. The composite is a novel material displaying application potential that warrants further development.",
keywords = "Emulsion, Hydrogels, Microspheres, Microstructural design, One-pot synthesis",
author = "Lai, {Wing Fu} and Rogach, {Andrey L.} and Wong, {Wing Tak}",
note = "Funding Information: We thank Tit-Wah Chan for his help in TGA measurements. Thanks are extended to Minjian Huang, Runyu Wu and Guoxing Deng for helpful discussions during the writing of this article. This project was supported by the University Research Facility for Chemical and Environmental Analysis (UCEA) of PolyU , HK Polytechnic University Area of Excellent Grants ( 1-ZVGG ), Natural Science Foundation of Shenzhen University ( 2017092 ), and the Science and Technology Innovation Committee of Shenzhen Municipality ( JCYJ20170818102436104 and JCYJ20170302144812937 ). Funding Information: We thank Tit-Wah Chan for his help in TGA measurements. Thanks are extended to Minjian Huang, Runyu Wu and Guoxing Deng for helpful discussions during the writing of this article. This project was supported by the University Research Facility for Chemical and Environmental Analysis (UCEA) of PolyU, HK Polytechnic University Area of Excellent Grants (1-ZVGG), Natural Science Foundation of Shenzhen University (2017092), and the Science and Technology Innovation Committee of Shenzhen Municipality (JCYJ20170818102436104 and JCYJ20170302144812937). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 Elsevier Ltd",
year = "2018",
month = oct,
doi = "10.1016/j.compositesa.2018.07.024",
language = "English",
volume = "113",
pages = "318--329",
journal = "Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing",
issn = "1359-835X",
publisher = "Elsevier Ltd",
}