Dye loading of amphiphilic poly(organosiloxane) nanoparticles

Up to 50% dye relative to the dead weight may be loaded into poly(organosiloxane) nanoparticles that contain quaternary ammonium groups (vessels 1-3 with hydrophilic thymol blue as a model substance), whereas nanoparticles without quaternary ammonium groups take up no dye (vessels 4,5). The loading depends inter alia on the construction of the nanoparticles (core-shell, hollow spheres), on the amphiphilicity, which is adjustable by synthesis, and on the method of the phase transfer.