Use of anchoring amphiphilic diblock copolymers for encapsulation of hydrophilic actives in polymeric microcapsules: methodology and encapsulation efficiency

Aqueous core-shell particles based on polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate) or polycaprolactone have been formulated using a facile double emulsion-based solvent evaporation method. The size distribution is narrow, and the morphology control is remarkable given the simple characteristics of the encapsulation method. The inner droplets are stabilized by oil-soluble poly(ethylene oxide)-based block copolymers which are anchored in the polymeric shell by using hydrophobic blocks of the same type as that of the shell-forming polymer. This facilitates the efficient encapsulation of dyes and hydrophilic biocides. [Figure not available: see fulltext.