The present invention relates to a polymer particles comprising a polymer
bead stabilized by vinylsulfonyl-functionalized polymers grafted to the
surface of the bead, as well as a particle composition comprising
monodisperse polymer beads stabilized by vinylsulfonyl-functionalized
polymers, wherein the vinylsulfonyl-functionalized polymers are grafted
to the surfaces of the beads. The invention also includes a method of
preparing monodisperse polymer particles comprising preparing a
homogeneous solution of an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable
monomer, an initiator, and a polymeric stabilizer, wherein the polymeric
stabilizer consists of repetitive units, wherein the repetitive units
comprise latent vinylsulfonyl moiety, polymerizing the homogeneous
solution, and converting the latent vinylsulfonyl moiety to vinylsulfonyl
moieties.