Kinetics of Core-Shell Nanoparticle Formation by Two-Dimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

We have studied the kinetics of polymeric nanoparticle formation for poly(styrene-block-4-vinylpyridine) [P(S-b-4-VPy)], chains in a non-selective solvent using 1,4-dibromobutane (DBB) as a cross-linker by means of different nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy techniques. The kinetic process was followed using H-1, C-13, and 2-D Heteronuclear Single Quantum Correlation (HSQC) NMR experiments. The kinetic data obtained from 2-D HSQC and 1H NMR experiments were in good agreement between them, proving the reliability of the 2-D HSQC NMR technique for the in situ study of the kinetics of core-shell nanoparticle formation. A value of 1.5 x 10(-5) s(-1) was determined for the apparent kinetic constant of the P(S-b-4-VPy)DBB core-shell nanoparticle formation process.