Amphiphilic invertible polymers for adsolubilization on hydrophilic and hydrophobized silica nanoparticles

Adsolubilization of poorly water-soluble 2-naphthol into amphiphilic invertible polymers (AIPs) has been successfully performed on hydrophilic and hydrophobized silica nanoparticles. The polymers adsolubilize molecules of sparingly water-soluble 2-naphthol into the adsorbed layer on both substrates. AIP macromolecules show different surface activity depending on length of the hydrophobic fragment in macromolecules. Different AIP fragments are responsible for polymer adsorption on hydrophilic and hydrophobized silica. It is expected that mainly AIP hydrophobic fragments interact with 2-naphthol molecules and facilitate adsolubilization. The amount of adsolubilized 2-naphthol does not depend on substrate nature and length of the hydrophobic fragment in polymer. It is primarily regulated by the total length of the adsorbed macromolecules. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.