Core (Polystyrene)–Shell [Poly(glycerol monomethacrylate)] Particles

A set of water-swollen core–shell particles was synthesized by emulsion polymerization of a 1,3-dioxolane functional monomer in water. After removal of the 1,3-dioxolane group, the particles’ shells were shown to swell in aqueous media. Upon hydrolysis, the particles increased in size from around 70 to 100–130 nm. A bicinchoninic acid assay and ζ-potential measurements were used to investigate the adsorption of lysozyme, albumin, or fibrinogen. Each of the core–shell particles adsorbed significantly less protein than the noncoated core (polystyrene) particles. Differences were observed as both the amount of difunctional, cross-linking monomer and the amount of shell monomer in the feed were changed. The core–shell particles were shown to be resistant to protein adsorption, and the degree to which the three proteins adsorbed was dependent on the formulation of the shell.