Hierarchically Porous Microspheres by Thiol-ene Photopolymerization of High Internal Phase Emulsions-in-Water Colloidal Systems.

A facile method for the preparation of hierarchically porous spherical particles using high internal phase water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) double emulsions via the photopolymerization of the water-in-oil high internal phase emulsion (w/o HIPE) was developed. Visible-light photopolymerization was used for the synthesis of microspherical particles. The HIP emulsion had an internal phase volume of 80% and an oil phase containing either thiol pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate) (PETMP) or trimethylolpropane tris(3-mercaptopropionate) (TMPTMP) and acrylate trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA).

Porous Polymers from High Internal Phase Emulsions as Scaffolds for Biological Applications.

High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs), with densely packed droplets of internal phase and monomers dispersed in the continuous phase, are now an established medium for porous polymer preparation (polyHIPEs). The ability to influence the pore size and interconnectivity, together with the process scalability and a wide spectrum of possible chemistries are important advantages of polyHIPEs. In this review, the focus on the biomedical applications of polyHIPEs is emphasised, in particular the applications of polyHIPEs as scaffolds/supports for biological cell growth, proliferation and tissue (re)generation.