WATER-SOLUBLE NANOSPHERES OF POLY(2-CINNAMOYLETHYL METHACRYLATE)-BLOCK-POLY(ACRYLIC ACID)

Poly(2-cinnamoylethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(acrylic acid)(PCEMA-b-P AA), with PCEMA photo-cross-linkable and PAA water soluble, were synth esized and characterized. The polymer formed spherical micelles in DMF /water with PCEMA as the core and PAA as the corona. The photo-crossli nking of the micelles yielded water-soluble nanospheres. The nanospher es were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and li ght scattering. Dynamic light-scattering studies revealed that the nan ospheres could readily take up organics in water. Coagulation of the n anospheres could be induced by the addition of divalent cations. These properties may allow the use of the nanospheres as the traps for orga nics in contaminated waters.