A polymerizable cationic quaternary ammonium surfactant (CQAS) based on 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) was successfully synthesized via quaternization reaction. The product was characterized by FTIR and H-1 NMR spectroscopy, and its critical micelle concentration (CMC) was obtained by surface tension measurement. The surfmer acted well as comonomer and surfactant to stabilize monomer droplets during miniemulsion polymerization. To identify whether this system undergoes miniemulsion nucleation mechanism, surface tension, particle size, and N-droplet/N-particle Of the system were also measured. The effect of concentration and counter-ion of the surfmer, and pH value of the system were systematically investigated by kinetic analysis and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The resulting nanopore microspheres were observed by transmission electron micrograph (TEM) and field emission scanning electron micrograph (FESEM) and showed the nanopore morphology with reasonable stability. Another cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was used for comparative studies. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.