A research group led by Associate Professor Hiroshi Yabu of Tohoku University, in collaboration with Asahikawa Medical University, has a variety of nano-structured polymer particles, including "Ashra particles" with nano-sized particles and three different "faces". We discovered a fabrication method and succeeded in constructing a mathematical model that can reproduce and predict experimental results.
Polymer fine particles have various uses such as light scattering suppression by mixing with paints, spacers and lubricants that regulate the thickness of displays, and carriers for immunological tests and diagnostics.In recent years, in these applications, advanced control of optical properties and surface properties of polymer fine particles is required.Conventionally, methods for producing fine particles having a uniform particle size from a single polymer by emulsion polymerization or the like have been actively studied, but it has been difficult to precisely control the surface shape and internal structure of the polymer fine particles.
This time, the research group prepared eight types of polymers with different surface tensions, and tried to combine two of them.In a combination of polymers with similar surface tensions, phase separation of the polymers resulted in a Janus-type phase separation structure with two different surfaces, and significantly different surface tensions formed a core-shell type phase separation structure.Furthermore, when three types of polymers with similar surface tension are combined, it is discovered for the first time that each polymer occupies 8/2 of the surface and forms "Ashura particles" with three different "faces".At the same time, it was proved that these experimental results can be reproduced and predicted by a unique mathematical model.
The polymer particle group such as Ashura particles developed this time has various aspects such as improvement of optical properties by mixing with paints and films, and high sensitivity and diversification of immunological tests and diagnoses by binding to each surface of different biomolecules. Is expected to contribute to.
