POLYMER PARTICLES WHICH CARRY IMPLANTED ON THEIR SURFACE AMPHIPHILIC MOLECULES CARRYING ION-FORMING OR REACTIVE GROUPS A PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THESE PARTICLES AND THEIR USE IN BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS

摘要

Polymer particles which carry, implanted on their surface, amphiphilic molecules carrying ion-forming or reactive groups, and dispersions thereof, which may be prepared by contacting a latex of particles of a polymer having a glass transition temperature Tg greater than about 40 DEG C., with an amphiphilic compound having an HLB greater than or equal to 10 and a molecular weight greater than or equal to 400. The contacting is carried out at a temperature within the glass transition zone of the polymer, until enmeshing of the polymer chains and of the hydrophobic blocks of the amphiphilic compound has been achieved. The hydrophilic block of the amphiphilic compound carries at least one ion-forming or reactive group. The particles and their dispersions are useful in biological applications.