Core-Template-Free Strategy for Preparing Hollow Nanospheres

Hollow polymeric nanospheres (see Figure) are directly obtained by polymerization of acrylic acid monomers inside micelles comprised of a biopolymer with amino groups, (chitosan) and an organic monomer with carboxylic group (acrylic acid). In this approach, the nanospheres form in aqueous solution without the aid of surfactant, organic solvent, precursors of block and graft copolymers, templating cores, or emulsion phases.