Cantu, TravisRodier, BradleyIszard, ZacharyKilian, AlissaPattani, Varun P.Walsh, KyleWeber, KatharinaTunnell, JamesBetancourt, TaniaIrvin, Jennifer A.2020-05-262020-05-262016-01Cantu, T., Rodier, B., Iszard, Z., Kilian, A., Pattani, V., Walsh, K., Weber, K., Tunnell, J., Betancourt, T., & Irvin, J. (2016). Electroactive polymer nanoparticles exhibiting photothermal properties. Journal of Visualized Experiments(107), e53631.https://hdl.handle.net/10877/10313A method for the synthesis of electroactive polymers is demonstrated, starting with the synthesis of extended conjugation monomers using a three-step process that finishes with Negishi coupling. Negishi coupling is a cross-coupling process in which a chemical precursor is first lithiated, followed by transmetallation with ZnCl2. The resultant organozinc compound can be coupled to a dibrominated aromatic precursor to give the conjugated monomer. Polymer films can be prepared via electropolymerization of the monomer and characterized using cyclic voltammetry and ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) spectroscopy. Nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared via emulsion polymerization of the monomer using a two-surfactant system to yield an aqueous dispersion of the polymer NPs. The NPs are characterized using dynamic light scattering, electron microscopy, and UV-Vis-NIR-spectroscopy. Cytocompatibility of NPs is investigated using the cell viability assay. Finally, the NP suspensions are irradiated with a NIR laser to determine their effectiveness as potential materials for photothermal therapy (PTT).Text13 pages1 file (.pdf)enengineeringelectroactive polymersconductive polymersnegishi couplingelectrochemistrynanoparticlesemulsion polymerizationphotothermal therapyChemistry and BiochemistryArticle© 2016 Journal of Visualized Experiments.https://doi.org/10.3791/53631