Effect of intermolecular and intramolecular forces on hydrodynamic diameters of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) copolymers in aqueous solutions

A novel copolymer, poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate‐co‐3‐trimethoxysilypropyl methacrylate) has been synthesized and the hydrodynamic diameters in various aqueous solutions under different temperatures are determined by dynamic light scattering. The results show that the hydrodynamic diameters of copolymers have no obvious change in each working solution below lower critical solution temperature (LCST); across LCST, the diameters increased suddenly at different initial temperature in various aqueous solutions; above LCST, they decreased slightly as the temperature increased in UHQ water, and increased continuously with increasing temperature or salt concentration in saline solutions, and reduced with the rising of pH value in pH buffer. These are attributed to different intermolecular and intramolecular forces leading to disparity in dimension, conformation, and LCST of copolymers. The hydrogen bonding between water molecules and copolymer chains could maintain size and conformation of copolymer single chain; the hydrogen bonding between amide linkages and hydrophobic interactions between isopropyl groups result in intramolecular collapse and intermolecular aggregation; the electrostatic repulsion weakens aggregation extent of copolymers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Thermoresponsive sodium alginate‐g‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) copolymers III. Solution properties

Stimuli‐responsive biocompatible and biodegradable materials can be obtained by combining polysaccharides with polymers exhibiting lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase behavior, such as poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm). The behavior of aqueous solutions of sodium alginate (NaAl) grafted with PNIPAAm (NaAl‐g‐PNIPAAm) copolymers as a function of composition and temperature is presented. The products obtained exhibit a remarkable thermothickening behavior in aqueous solutions if the degree of grafting, the concentration, and the temperature are higher than some critical values. The sol–gel‐phase transition temperatures have been determined. It was found that at temperatures below LCST the systems behave like a solution, whereas at temperatures above LCST, the solutions behave like a stiff gel, because of PNIPAAm segregation. This behavior is reversible and could find applications in tissue engineering and drug delivery systems. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Synthesis of amphiphilic temperature‐sensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐block‐poly(tetramethylene carbonate) block copolymers and micellar characterization

Amphiphilic thermally sensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐block‐poly(tetramethylene carbonate) block copolymers were synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of tetramethylene carbonate with hydroxyl‐terminated poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAAm) as macro‐initiator in the presence of stannous octoate as catalyst. The synthesis involved PNiPAAm bearing a single terminal hydroxyl group prepared by telomerization using 2‐hydroxyethanethiol as a chain‐transfer agent. The copolymers were characterized using ¹H NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. Their solutions show reversible changes in optical properties: transparent below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and opaque above the LCST. The LCST depends on the polymer composition and the media. Owing to their amphiphilic characteristics, the block copolymers form micelles in the aqueous phase with critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) in the range 1.11–22.9 mg L^?1. Increasing the hydrophobic segment length or decreasing the hydrophilic segment length in the amphiphilic diblock copolymers produces lower CMCs. A core‐shell structure of the micelles is evident from ¹H NMR analyses of the micelles in D₂O. Transmission electron microscopic analyses of micelle morphology show a spherical structure of both blank and drug‐loaded micelles. The blank and drug‐loaded micelles have an average size of less than 130 nm. Observations show high drug‐entrapment efficiency and drug‐loading content for the drug‐loaded micelles. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and characterization of dual stimuli-responsive block copolymers based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-poly(pseudoamino acid)

The current study synthesized amphiphilic thermal/pH-sensitive block copolymers PNiPAAm-b-PHpr by condensation polymerization of trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline (Hpr) initiated from hydroxy-terminated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAAm) as the macroinitiator in the presence of the catalyst, SnOct₂. ¹H NMR, FTIR, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) characterized these copolymers. Their solutions showed reversible changes in optical properties: transparent below a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and opaque above the LCST. The LCST values depended on the polymer composition and the media. With critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) in the range of 1.23-3.73 mg L⁻¹, the block copolymers formed micelles in the aqueous phase owing to their amphiphilic characteristics. Increased hydrophobic segment length or decreased hydrophilic segment length in an amphiphilic diblock copolymer produced lower CMC values. The current work proved the core-shell structure of micelles by ¹H NMR analyses of the micelles in D₂O. Transmission electron microscopy analyzed micelle morphology, showing a spherical core-shell structure. The micelles had an average size in the range of 170˜210 nm (blank), and 195˜280 nm (with drug). Observations showed high drug entrapment efficiency and drug-loading content for the drug micelles.     

Thermo- and pH-sensitivity of poly(N-vinylcaprolactam-co-maleic acid) in aqueous solution

The field of thermo- and pH-sensitive copolymers, with applications in controlled drug delivery, is enriched with the copolymer based on N-vinylcaprolactam and maleic acid (VCL–MAc) that is synthesized and characterized in this paper. Cloud point measurements and dynamic light scattering are used to characterize the phase transition of VCL–MAc copolymers with variable composition in aqueous solution. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) increases when the maleic acid content in the copolymer rises. Also, the LCST strongly depends on the polymer concentrations and the pH of the aqueous solution. The influence of the pH, and as a result of the polyelectrolyte dissociation, on the macromolecular chains conformation is studied by viscometric measurements. An interplay between Coulombic, hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions determines the conformation of the macromolecules in solution and also the phase separation of VCL–MAc copolymers.     

Structural effect of a series of block copolymers consisting of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and poly(N-hydroxyethylacrylamide) on thermoresponsive behavior

Well-defined diblock and triblock copolymers consisting of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly(N-hydroxyethylacrylamide) (PHEAA) were prepared using the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) method. The number-average molecular weight and fraction of each segment were precisely controllable by adjusting the monomer/initiator ratio in feed. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of a series of block copolymers with different compositions was examined using a turbidimetry analysis. The copolymers with a relatively lower molar fraction of HEAA units in the polymer chain exhibited phase transition phenomenon, in which the LCST depended on the fraction in the copolymer. On the other hand, the LCST disappeared for the copolymers with higher HEAA unit molar fractions. The ¹H NMR measurement clarified that the disappearance of the LCST was attributed to the formation of the water-soluble micelle. Furthermore, the thermoresponsive property of the series of block copolymers was elucidated on the basis of the structural effect of the copolymer, which includes the order and length of the block segments.     

Synthesis of thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) and poly(acrylic acid) block copolymers via post-functionalization of poly(N-methacryloxysuccinimide)

Polymers exhibiting a thermoresponsive, lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase transition have proven to be useful for many applications as “smart” or “intelligent” materials. A series of poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) (PNIPMAM) polymer, poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PNIPMAM-b-PAA) diblock, and poly(acrylic acid)-b-poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PAA-b-PNIPMAM-b-AA) triblock copolymer samples were synthesized via ATRP. A facile post-functionalization route was developed that uses an activated ester functionality to convert poly(N-methacryloxysuccinimide) (PMASI) blocks to LCST capable polyacrylamide, while poly(t-butyl acrylate) (PtBA) blocks were converted to water-soluble poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). The post-functionalization was monitored via ¹H NMR and ATR-FTIR. The aqueous solution properties were explored and the PNIPMAM polymers were shown to have a LCST phase transition varying from 35 to 60 °C. The ability to synthesize block copolymers that are thermoresponsive and water-soluble will be of great benefit for broader applications in drug delivery, bioengineering, and nanotechnology.     

Phase behavior of temperature‐ and pH‐sensitive poly(acrylic acid‐g‐N‐isopropylacrylamide) in dilute aqueous solution

Several different composition temperature‐ and pH‐sensitive poly(acrylic acid‐g‐N‐isopropylacrylamide) (P(AA‐g‐NIPAM)) graft copolymers were synthesized by free‐radical copolymerization utilizing macromonomer technique. The phase behavior and conformation change of P(AA‐g‐NIPAM) in aqueous solutions were investigated by UV–vis transmittance measurements, fluorescence probe, and fluorescence quenching techniques. The results demonstrate that the P(AA‐g‐NIPAM) copolymers have temperature‐ and pH‐sensitivities, and these different composition graft copolymers have different lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and critical phase transition pH values. The LCST of graft copolymer decreases with increasing PNIPAM content, and the critical phase transition pH value increases with increasing Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) content. At room temperature (20°C), different composition of P(AA‐g‐NIPAM) graft copolymers in dilute aqueous solutions (0.001 wt %) have a loose conformation, and there is no hydrophobic microdomain formation within researching pH range (pH 3 ～ 10). In addition, for the P(AA‐g‐NIPAM) aqueous solutions, transition from coil to globular is an incomplete reversible process in heating and cooling cycles. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Synthesis and thermosensitive behavior of dextran graft copolymers containing poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) side chains

New graft copolymers were synthesized by grafting N-vinylcaprolactam onto dextran. Their composition and structure were investigated by elemental analyses, infrared spectra and thermogravimetric analyses. By optical transmittance measurements, it was found that the aqueous solutions of these graft copolymers showed a temperature-dependent transmittance change due to the introduction of thermosensitive poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) graft chains. Moreover, the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the graft copolymer in aqueous solution was dependent on its grafting extent and concentration. The LCST value was found to increase with the increase of the grafting extent and decrease with the increase of the copolymer concentration. With these stimuli-response properties, such polysaccharide derivative may hold potential applications in biomedicine and biotechnology. Translated from Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Sunyatseni, 2006, 45(1): 50–52 [译自: 中山大学学报 (自然科学版)]     

Temperature and light sensitive copolymers containing azobenzene moieties prepared via a polymer analogous reaction

Four different series of polyacrylamides containing different amounts of azobenzene moieties have been synthesized via a polymer analogous reaction of poly(pentafluorophenylacrylate) (PPFPA). All copolymers were designed to exhibit a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in aqueous solution, which was dependent on (i) the amount of incorporated chromophoric azobenzene groups and (ii) the isomerization state of the respective azobenzene group. Higher LCST values were measured for UV-irradiated solutions of the copolymers in comparison to the non-irradiated copolymer solutions. A maximum difference in the LCST of up to 7 °C was found for the copolymer poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) containing 8.5 mol% of azobenzene groups. Within this temperature range, a reversible solubility change of the copolymer could be induced by irradiation with light.     

Synthesis and characterization of temperature‐sensitive block copolymers from poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) and 4‐methyl‐ε‐caprolactone or 4‐phenyl‐ε‐caprolactone

This study synthesizes thermally sensitive block copolymers poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐b‐poly(4‐methyl‐ε‐caprolactone) (PNIPA‐b‐PMCL) and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐b‐poly(4‐phenyl‐ε‐caprolactone) (PNIPA‐b‐PBCL) by ring‐opening polymerization of 4‐methyl‐ε‐caprolactone (MCL) or 4‐phenyl‐ε‐caprolactone (BCL) initiated from hydroxy‐terminated poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) as the macroinitiator in the presence of SnOct₂ as the catalyst. This research prepares a PNIPA bearing a single terminal hydroxyl group by telomerization using 2‐hydroxyethanethiol (ME) as a chain‐transfer agent. These copolymers are characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), ¹H‐NMR, FTIR, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The thermal properties (T_g) of diblock copolymers depend on polymer compositions. Incorporating larger amount of MCL or BCL into the macromolecular backbone decreases T_g. Their solutions show transparent below a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and opaque above the LCST. LCST values for the PNIPA‐b‐PMCL aqueous solution were observed to shift to lower temperature than that for PNIPA homopolymers. This work investigates their micellar characteristics in the aqueous phase by fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The block copolymers formed micelles in the aqueous phase with critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) in the range of 0.29–2.74 mg L^?1, depending on polymer compositions, which dramatically affect micelle shape. Drug entrapment efficiency and drug loading content of micelles depend on block polymer compositions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Thermosensitive poly(allylamine)-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide): synthesis, phase separation and particle formation

Grafting of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) having carboxylic groups at one end onto poly(allylamine) (PAH) in the presence of water soluble carbodiimide has yielded PAH-g-PNIPAAm copolymers with grafting ratios of 50, 29 and 18, respectively. These thermosensitive copolymers exhibit a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at 34 °C at a temperature increase cycle regardless of their grafting ratios, a temperature identical to that of PNIPAAm-COOH oligomers. Temperature cycling reveals completely reversible polymer aggregation and dissolution above and below the LCST, respectively. Much smaller particle sizes are observed by scanning force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy compared to dynamic light scattering. A porous sphere model is suggested to depict the structure of the particles formed above the LCST, by which the dependence of the particle sizes on their grafting ratios is interpreted taking into account the surface tension and the spatial aggregation distance. Finally, to demonstrate the capability of the copolymers being used as thermosensitive polyelectrolytes, assembly onto multilayers is conducted and the increase of layer thickness is confirmed by small angle X-ray scattering and ellipsometry characterizations.     

Synthesis of ABA triblock copolymer of poly(potassium acrylate-styrene-potassium acrylate) by atom transfer radical polymerization and the self-assembly in selective solvents

A series of well-defined ABA triblock copolymers of poly(methyl acrylate)-polystyrene-poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA-b-PS-b-PMA) with different molecular weights were synthesized using Cl-PS-Cl as macroinitiator, CuCl/N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) as catalyst system via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Amphiphilic triblock copolymer poly(potassium acrylate)-polystyrene-poly(potassium acrylate) (PKAA-b-PS-b-PKAA) was obtained by hydrolyzing PMA-b-PS-b-PMA. The self-assembly behavior of the triblock copolymers in organic solutions, which is a good solvent for the PS block and in aqueous solutions, which is a good solvent for the PKAA blocks was studied by high performance particle sizer (HPPS). The results showed that the Z-average size of the micelles obviously increases with increase in molecular weight of triblock copolymers, and the micelles in organic solutions are relatively more stable than in aqueous solutions. The effect of the length of PS block on the Z-average size of the micelles is more obvious in organic solution than in aqueous solution. The morphology of triblock copolymers PKAA-b-PS-b-PKAA in aqueous solution, which is a nearly ‘pearl-necklace’-like shape, was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at room temperature.     

Thermo-responsive nanofibers prepared from poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-methylol acrylamide)

Thermo-responsive nanofibers were successfully prepared via electrospinning in this study. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-methylol acrylamide), poly(NIPAAm-co-NMA), was used as the material for preparing the electrospinning nanofibers. Poly(NIPAAm-co-NMA) copolymers showed thermo-responsive property in aqueous solution, and such copolymers of NIPAAm and NMA were synthesized via random redox copolymerization. Here, NMA provided the thermal crosslinking function for the copolymer. Thermal curing process was then applied on the copolymer nanofibers for thermal crosslinking and the crosslinked nanofibers could keep the fiber morphology and the copolymer characters while soaking in water. The thermal curing conditions led to different swelling performance, LCST, and morphology of copolymer nanofibers while dipping in water. This study demonstrated that novel nanofibers exhibited thermo-responsive characteristics. The nanofibers of these copolymers were suggested for application as a new kind of sensors, drug carriers, and engineering tissues.     

Synthesis,characterisation and solution thermal behaviour of a family of poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide-co-N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) copolymers

Thermo-responsive copolymers of poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide-co-N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide)p(NIPAAm-co-HMAAm) with a range of content of hydroxy groups have been synthesised by free radical polymerisation. The polymers were characterised by NMR, FTIR and GPC. A detailed study of the solution thermal properties showed that polymers with up to about 50 wt.% hydroxy monomer show lower critical solution temperature (LCST) properties in water. Polymers with higher hydroxy monomer content are fully soluble at all temperatures up to 100 °C. The effect of pH, salts and solvent additives on the solution thermal behaviour of the copolymers was investigated, showing that “salting-out” salts lowered the LCST and “salting-in” salts caused an initial increase in LCST at low concentrations, but reduced LCST at higher concentrations, in line with the Hoffmeister series. The LCST of any copolymer composition from this family in pure water can be predicted from the empirical equation; LCST = 0.015x² + 0.25x + 31.76, where x is the fraction of the hydroxy monomer. Due to differences in polarity and the length of the carbon chain, methanol and ethanol altered LCST of p(NIPAAm) and its hydroxyl copolymers in different manners, showing a transition from cononsolvency to cosolvency as the hydroxyl content of the copolymer increased. A more complex polyhydroxy compound, sucrose, had very little effect on LCST for either p(NIPAAm) or its hydroxyl copolymers.     

Deswelling characteristics of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gels exhibit a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior in aqueous solution. At temperatures below the LCST, the gel is more hydrated than at temperatures above the LCST. At the LCST, the volume change is sharp. It is shown here that the water content of the gel above the LCST depends upon previous states of the gel (e.g., dry or wet), the heating rate, and the gel thickness. Deswelling kinetics are also affected by the gel thickness. Caffeine release experiments indicate that microscopic water pockets are formed within the matrix during the rapid gel collapse procedure. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles for efficient drug delivery system

To investigate thermosensitive polymeric nanoparticle, amphiphilic block copolymers of poly(N-isopropylacrylamice)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PNPCL) with different PCL block lengths were synthesized by hydroxy-terminated poly(N-isopropyoacrylamide) (PNiPAAm) initiated ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone. Owing to their amphiphilic characteristics, the block copolymers formed self-assembled polymeric nanoparticles in aqueous milieus with thermosensitive PNiPAAm shell compartment. The characterizations of the nanoparticles revealed that the PNPCL nanoparticles showed PCL block length dependent physicochemical characters such as particle sizes, critical aggregation concentrations, and core hydrophobicities. Moreover, the thermosensitive PNiPAAm shells conferred unique temperature responsive properties such as phase transitions with temperature elevation over its lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The temperature induced phase transition resulted in the formation of PNiPAAm hydrogel layer on the PNPCL nanoparticle surface. The drug release tests revealed that the formation of thermosensitive hydrogel layer resulted in the enhanced sustained drug release patterns by acting as an additional diffusion barriers. Therefore, the introduction of thermosensitive polymers on polymeric nanoparticles might be a potential approaches to modulate drug release behaviors.     

Thermosensitive copolymer with cobalt phthalocyanine and catalytic behavior based on adjustable LCST

Thermosensitive polymers with metallophthalocyanine were prepared by immobilizing cobalt tetra(2,4-dichloro-1,3,5-triazine)aminophthalocyanine (Co-TDTAPc) on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) and copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) with acrylamide (AM) (P(NIPA-co-AM)) to obtain Co-TDTAPc–PNIPA and Co-TDTAPc–P(NIPA-co-AM). Examination of the thermosensitive behavior of these polymers showed that the proportion of AM in Co-TDTAPc–P(NIPA-co-AM) had a significant effect on the low critical solution temperature (LCST) in aqueous solution. The LCST of Co-TDTAPc–P(NIPA-co-AM) was adjustable from 34.5 °C to 90.0 °C by changing the AM molar fraction from 0% to 40%. The copolymers showed a high level of catalytic activity on the oxidation of 2-mercaptoethanol in the homogeneous phase when the reaction temperature was below the LCST, and the copolymers could be precipitated and recovered by heterogeneous separation when the temperature was above the LCST. Compared to Co-TDTAPc–PNIPA, the catalytic system with Co-TDTAPc–P(NIPA-co-AM) is able to maintain homogeneity at a higher temperature due to the higher LCST of the copolymers. In addition, strong salting-out salts, such as NaCl and Na₂SO₄, can decrease the LCST of the copolymers dramatically and obviate the need for more heat to drive the catalytic reaction system to achieve heterogeneous separation. Co-TDTAPc–P(NIPA-co-AM) was stable and remained efficient during repetitive test cycles with no obvious decrease of catalytic activity.     

聚(丙烯酸-共聚-苯并-18-冠醚-6-丙烯酰胺)的铯离子响应特性及其铯离子检测性能

制备了一种聚(丙烯酸-共聚-苯并-18-冠醚-6-丙烯酰胺)（PAB）线形共聚物,并系统研究了不同丙烯酸含量的PAB线形共聚物对铯离子的响应特性及其用于铯离子浓度检测的性能。结果表明,在不同浓度的铯离子溶液中,PAB线形共聚物的低临界溶解温度（LCST）会随着铯离子浓度增加向低温迁移;在实验范围内,当PAB线形共聚物中的丙烯酸质量分数为30%时,其铯离子响应特性最有利于水溶液中铯离子浓度的检测。通过系统实验研究,确立了PAB共聚物的LCST与水溶液中铯离子浓度的关系函数;利用该关系函数,可简单地通过测定未知铯离子浓度的PAB溶液LCST,即可推断出该溶液中的铯离子浓度。该研究为铯离子的便捷检测提供了新手段。     

Thermoresponsive behaviour in aqueous solution of poly(maleic acid‐alt‐vinyl acetate) grafted with poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)

The synthesis of a thermoresponsive graft copolymer consisting of a maleic acid/vinyl acetate alternating copolymer backbone (MAc‐alt‐VA) and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) side chains is reported. Turbidimetric measurements in dilute aqueous solutions showed that no macroscopic phase separation takes place when the temperature is raised above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAM, even at pH = 2. Moreover, in semi‐dilute aqueous solutions, a pronounced thermally induced viscosity increase (thermothickening) was observed. This thermoresponsive behaviour has been attributed to the interconnection of the hydrophilic MAc‐alt‐VA graft copolymer backbones by means of the hydrophobic PNIPAM side chain aggregates formed as the temperature increases above the LCST of this polymer. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry