Preparation and Characterization of Magnetic Carriers from Hypercrosslinked Polystyrene Microspheres and their Application in a Biosensor.

With the aim to develop and characterize a functionalized highly magnetic polymer carrier of micrometer size and of a narrow particle size distribution that will be suitable for biological application, hypercrosslinked microspheres were prepared. Simultaneously, the relation between structure and properties of product was observed. Condition of dispersion polymerization were optimized to obtain starting monodisperse poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) [P(St-DVB)] microspheres. The P(St-DVB) microspheres of different degree of crosslinking were prepared and effect of some polymerization parameters such as type of solvent, initiator, concentration and mode of DVB addition on morphology, size and particle size distribution were investigated. The starting microspheres were hypercrosslinked to obtain microporous inner structure. Hyperosslinked particles had very large specific surface area (> 1000 m2/g) and a high content of micropores (ca. 0.6 ml/g). First, P(St-DVB) microspheres were chloromethylated using three different chloromethylation agents to regulate their porous properties. Hypercrosslinking was achieved by the addition of stannic chloride as a catalyst and by increasing a temperature. The hypercrosslinked microspheres were then functionalized with sulfo- or aminogroups. The functional groups captured precipitated iron oxide inside the porous structure of the microspheres and also served as a reactive site for intended immobilization of the protein. A solution of ferrous and ferric chloride was imbibed under vacuum into the porous structure and the iron oxide was precipitated by an aqueous ammonia solution. Finally, the magnetic functionalized hypercrosslinked micropsheres were integrated into a biosensor for qualitative detection of ovalbumin