Fabrication of shellac nanoparticles loaded with fluorescent tetraphenylethylene using high gravity reactor technology toward effective scale-up

Encapsulation of tetraphenylethylene (TPE) molecules with aggregation-induced emission effect in polymers have found many applications, while green synthetic approach toward luminescent nanoparticles with simple operation process and robust mass-scale production remain challenging. High-gravity-assisted technology for encapsulating TPE into low-cost and readily available shellac (Lac) is developed toward effective scaling up. Anti-solvent processing in rotating packed bed (RPB) is used for TPE@Lac nanoparticles by using tetrahydrofuran as solvent and water as antisolvent. Through mixing intensification by RPB, undesirable effects of the mixing state can be mitigated, ensuring high efficiency in industrial production. Luminescent nanoparticles with average size of 119.1 ± 0.9 nm and excellent dispersibility in aqueous solutions were prepared, exhibiting strong blue emission under excitation of ultraviolet light. Preliminary applications of TPE@Lac nanoparticles as fluorescent sensor in shape memory polymeric nanocomposites for monitoring temperature changes during cold chain storage are demonstrated.