Microspheres with Tunable Porosity Based on Reactive Block Copolymer: Preparation and Vapor‐Healing Behavior

Herein, a simple route to prepare porous microspheres with tuned pore structure and potential functionality based on epoxy functionalized block copolymers, poly hydroxypropyl methacrylate-b- poly glycidyl methacrylate (PHPMA-b-PGMA), through a water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsion is reported. The effect of surfactant concentration and the composition of block copolymers are investigated. The solvent vapor swelling behavior of porous microspheres before and after cross-linking is studied. It is interesting that after the swelling, the cross-linked open pores are self-healed to form closed pores, whereas the uncross-linked ones are collapsed. It is believed that this observation will be useful in guest carrying and control release, and find its application in biomedical and pharmaceuticals.