Embodiments of the present disclosure include a polyvinyl ester-based latex having polyvinyl ester-based particles with vinyl ester groups that have been partially hydrolyzed to a predetermined degree, and methods of modifying and forming the polyvinyl ester-based latex of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure also include coating compositions that include the polyvinyl ester-based latex of the present disclosure and an optical brightening agent (OBA), where the polyvinyl ester-based particles act as a carrier for the OBA in a coating composition for a print media substrate.