Methyl α-(hydroxymethyl)acrylate microspheres: Design, synthesis, characterization, and use

Polymeric microspheres based on the monomer methyl α-(hydroxymethyl)acrylate of sizes ranging from approximately 0.4 μm up to approximately 2.7 μm have been prepared by radical polymerization of this monomer in water in the presence of appropriate surfactants. The kinetics of formation of the monomer methyl α-(hydroxymethyl )acrylate and its polymeric microspheres were illustrated. The effect of various factors, e.g., monomer concentration, surfactant type, and concentration and crosslinker, on the microspheres formation have been studied. Characterization of these microspheres was accomplished by methods such as IR, inherent viscosity, number and weight-average molecular weights, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning colorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. The use of these microspheres for covalent binding of proteins and for purification of proteins by affinity chromatography has also been demonstrated.