Abstract

Polymer latex particles are widely used as a solid support in numerous applications and especially in the biomedical field, due to the existence of various polymerization processes (emulsion, dispersion, microemulsion, etc.) for preparing latex that is well-defined in terms of particle size, reactive groups, surface charge density, colloidal stability, etc. Since 1986, precipitation polymerization of alkylacrylamide and alkylmethacrylamide derivatives (water-soluble monomers) has been found to be a convenient method for producing submicronic, functionalized thermally sensitive latex hydrogel particles, as reported by Pelton and Chibante [1]. Since then, thermally responsive microgel latex particles have played a particular and considerable role in academic research and industrial applications. In academic research, studies are mainly focused on the polymerization mechanism and colloidal characterization in dispersed media. From an application point of view, stimuli-responsive microgels have been principally explored in drug delivery as a carrier in therapy.