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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Plant Polymer Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #286075
Title: Production of BSA-poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate) nanoparticles as a coating material that improves wetting property

Author
item Kim, Sanghoon
item Evans, Kervin
item Biswas, Atanu

Submitted to: Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/23/2013
Publication Date: 3/5/2013
Citation: Kim, S., Evans, K.O., Biswas, A. 2013. Production of BSA-poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate) nanoparticles as a coating material that improves wetting property. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces. 107(1):68-75.

Interpretive Summary: In this research, we present a new method for the production of nanoparticles that is composed of a protein and a biodegradable synthetic polymer. Nanoparticles are small particles the size of which is in the nanometer (1,000,000 nanometers = 1 millimeter) scale. The produced nanoparticles have such a strong adsorption characteristic that they can be used as a coating material on the surface of non-wetting objects. If transparent window materials such as glass or Plexiglas are coated with these nanoparticles, the visibility will improve on rainy days without deteriorating its transparency. The presented product can be commercialized in the form of window-cleaning products. This research has provided detailed information on the development of surface-coating solutions. Scientists in industry and academia developing surface-modifying products would benefit.

Technical Abstract: Alkyl cyanoacrylates have long been used for the synthesis of colloidal nanoparticles. In the involved polymerization reaction, OH- ions derived from dissociation of water have been used as an initiator. In the current research, an animal protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA) molecules were utilized as initiator for the polymerization. Following this reaction scheme, hydrophobic poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate) was covalently bound to BSA, which is hydrophilic. Therefore, the resultant diblock copolymer was amphiphilic in nature, and formed nanoparticles in the reaction medium. The solution containing these nanoparticles showed an excellent coating capability on the surface of hydrophobic materials. A simple spray coating changed the wetting property of the material instantly and dramatically.