多重响应壳聚糖微凝胶的制备及溶胀性

采用无皂乳液聚合法制备聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)/壳聚糖微凝胶(PNIPAM/CS),透射电镜和动态光散射研究了微凝胶外貌形态及刺激响应性。结果显示,微凝胶颗粒呈球形,具有核、壳结构形态。加入壳聚糖对PNIPAM的体积相转变温度(VPTT)有影响,微凝胶VPTT随壳聚糖用量的增加向高温迁移,此结果与示差量热法(DSC)测定一致。不同pH条件下微凝胶粒径变化表明,颗粒直径随pH增大逐渐减小,至碱性又增大,显示明显的pH敏感性;相应颗粒Zeta电位逐渐减小,接近中性达到等电点,至碱性反转为负值,这一变化能对微凝胶pH敏感性进行合理解释。     

聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)微凝胶的流变性能研究

首先采用无皂乳液聚合法成功制备出粒径均匀的聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(PNIPAM)微凝胶,利用动态光散射法(DLS)测得微凝胶的粒径随温度的升高而下降,结果表明:PNIPAM微凝胶具有明显的温度敏感性。利用旋转流变仪对微凝胶分散液的稳态和动态粘弹性进行了研究,结果表明:当温度低于体积相转变温度(VTPP)时,微凝胶呈现出剪切变稀的特性;应力、应变保持不变,随着温度的升高及温度不变,随着频率的增加微凝胶都由液态变成了粘弹性固体,这可能是由于出现了三维逾渗网络结构造成的。     

分散聚合法合成聚（N-异丙基丙烯酰胺）温敏性微凝胶

以PVP为稳定剂,在水或醇/水介质中通过分散聚合法合成出聚（N-异丙基丙烯酰胺）（PNIPAM）温敏性微凝胶。研究结果表明,可通过改变稳定剂用量和分散介质极性来控制PNIPAM微凝胶的大小,这两种因素对PNIPAM微凝胶的溶胀比有明显的影响,而对其相转变行为影响不大;交联剂用量对PNIPAM微凝胶的粒径、溶胀比和相转变行为都有比较明显的影响。PNIPAM微凝胶可能主要通过接枝共聚物聚结机理成核,通过初级粒子之间的聚并完成粒子增长过程。     

自交联法合成相转变温度范围窄的聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)水凝胶微球

在不使用交联剂的情况下,采用无皂乳液聚合法合成自交联聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)(PNIPAM)水凝胶微球。固体13C NMR分析结果表明,PNIPAM水凝胶微球中存在因链转移反应形成的自交联点。自交联PNIPAM水凝胶微球的相转变温度范围很窄,接近非连续体积相转变行为。合成过程中反应温度、反应时间、引发剂用量对微球粒径和溶胀比有比较明显的影响,这些因素对微球的相转变温度及其范围的影响均很小。     

近红外光响应氧化石墨烯/微凝胶复合智能水凝胶

设计合成了一种包含氧化石墨烯（GO）片层、聚（N-异丙基丙烯酰胺）（PNIPAM）微凝胶球体和PNIPAM链段的复合结构水凝胶。通过控制聚合时间得到负载双键且粒径不同的PNIPAM微凝胶,将其作为交联点与N-异丙基丙烯酰胺（NIPAM）聚合,GO作为纳米填料掺入水凝胶体系,GO片层上的含氧基团与NIPAM上的胺基产生氢键物理交联。此方法制备的复合水凝胶同时具有温度敏感和近红外光敏感特性,通过改变GO浓度、微凝胶的合成时间、NIPAM浓度等条件,水凝胶的光敏感性和温度敏感性得到提升。相比于传统PNIPAM水凝胶,此种复合水凝胶能够对光响应,实现非接触式控制形变,且响应速率快、响应程度高,可应用于光控开关等领域。     

接触角法研究温敏性微凝胶相变前后的亲疏水性

采用光学视频接触角测量仪研究了聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)(PNIPAM)微凝胶在相转变前后的亲疏水性变化。结果表明:PNIPAM微凝胶在32℃附近发生了亲水性-疏水性的反转,微凝胶薄膜的接触角变化显著;随温度增加,接触角从31℃时的73.1°到33℃时的83.2°,而表面自由能从38.5 mN/m下降至32.08 mN/m。     

近红外光响应氧化石墨烯/微凝胶复合智能水凝胶

设计合成了一种包含氧化石墨烯(GO)片层、聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)(PNIPAM)微凝胶球体和PNIPAM链段的复合结构水凝胶。通过控制聚合时间得到负载双键且粒径不同的PNIPAM微凝胶,将其作为交联点与N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(NIPAM)聚合,GO作为纳米填料掺入水凝胶体系,GO片层上的含氧基团与NIPAM上的胺基产生氢键物理交联。此方法制备的复合水凝胶同时具有温度敏感和近红外光敏感特性,通过改变GO浓度、微凝胶的合成时间、NIPAM浓度等条件,水凝胶的光敏感性和温度敏感性得到提升。相比于传统PNIPAM水凝胶,此种复合水凝胶能够对光响应,实现非接触式控制形变,且响应速率快、响应程度高,可应用于光控开关等领域。     

PNIPAM微凝胶/PVDF温敏膜的制备及其性能研究

将自由基聚合法合成的聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(PNIPAM)微凝胶和聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)共混,制备出了具有温度响应性的复合膜。采用FTIR、SEM对PNIPAM微凝胶/PVDF温敏膜的组成及结构进行分析,可以发现PNIPAM微凝胶被成功包裹在PVDF膜孔中,并使膜的孔径增大。PNIPAM微凝胶对温度具有较好的响应性,可以通过改变温度调节微凝胶的溶胀和收缩,进而调控复合膜的水通量。     

温敏性微凝胶对蛋白质和酶的吸附性能

用微乳液聚合方法以N-异丙基丙烯酰胺为单体合成了温敏性微凝胶聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(PNIPAM),研究了其对两种蛋白质和两种酶的吸附性能,测定了吸附等温线和温度对吸附量的影响。结果表明,微凝胶在低临界溶解温度(LCST)附近吸附蛋白质和酶的量有一突跃,例如在LCST前后,1 g纳米颗粒吸附的酪蛋白的质量分别为225 mg和415 mg;吸附的枯草杆菌蛋白酶的质量分别为12 000U/mg和27 500 U/mg。蛋白质和酶是通过物理吸附作用结合到PNIPAM微凝胶上,可以用调节温度的方法,来控制温敏微凝胶对蛋白质和酶的吸附与脱附。     

PNIPAM/锂藻土纳米复合凝胶微球的制备及其弹性力学性能

利用微流控技术,以锂藻土作为交联剂,成功制备得到温度响应型聚（N-异丙基丙烯酰胺）（PNIPAM）与锂藻土的纳米复合凝胶微球,并利用一种简单的微步进单轴压缩装置,分别在25℃和37℃下对具有不同锂藻土含量的PNIPAM/锂藻土纳米复合凝胶微球的弹性力学性能进行系统研究。该微步进单轴压缩装置主要包括三个部分：一个程控进样器用以实现对凝胶微球的微步进压缩,一套配有高分辨率数码相机的侧视光学系统用以记录凝胶微球受压时发生的形变,一台精密电子天平作为力传感器用来记录凝胶微球在特定形变下所受的外力。研究结果表明,纳米复合凝胶微球在25℃和37℃下的形变量H与所受压力F的实验数据与Hertz弹性接触理论方程呈现良好的拟合关系,证明了PNIPAM/锂藻土纳米复合凝胶微球在25℃和37℃下均具有弹性形变行为。同时,随着锂藻土含量的增加,PNIPAM/锂藻土纳米复合凝胶微球的温敏性降低,但其杨氏模量增大。具有相同锂藻土含量的纳米复合凝胶微球,由于温度升高凝胶体积收缩、凝胶结构变得致密,因此在37℃下的杨氏模量大于其在25℃下的杨氏模量。研究结果可为PNIPAM/锂藻土纳米复合凝胶微球的设计与实际应用提供指导。     

Synthesis and thermo-responsive behavior of fluorescent labeled microgel particles based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and its related polymers

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microgel particles labeled with 3-(2-propenyl)-9-(4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)phenanthrene (VDP) as an intramolecular fluorescent probe were prepared by emulsion polymerization. The thermo-responsive behavior of the VDP-labeled PNIPAM microgel particles dispersed in water was studied by turbidimetric and fluorescence analyses. The transition temperature of the VDP-labeled PNIPAM microgel particles in water determined by turbidimetric analysis was ca. 32.5 °C. The wavelength at the maximum fluorescence intensity of the VDP units linked directly to the microgel particles dramatically blue-shifted around the transition temperature. In addition it gradually blue-shifted even below the transition temperature where there was no change observed in the turbidity. These findings suggest that the gradual shrinking of microgel particles occurs with increasing temperature and the subsequent dramatic shrinking results in the increasing in the turbidity. The transition temperatures of VDP-labeled poly(N-n-propylacrylamide) and poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) microgel particles determined by turbidimetric analysis were ca. 23 and ca. 42.5 °C, respectively, and their thermo-responsive behavior was similar to that for the VDP-labeled PNIPAM system. In these three systems the microenvironments around the fluorescent probes above the transition temperatures became more hydrophobic than those below the transition temperature, and the estimated values of microenvionmental polarity around the VDP units on their collapsed states were almost the same.     

On the structure of biocompatible,thermoresponsive poly(ethylene glycol) microgels

The aim of the present study is the preparation and characterization of microgel particles which are, contrary to other microgels, thermoresponsive as well as biocompatible. Hence, monodisperse p-MeO₂MA-co-OEGMA microgel particles were synthesized by precipitation polymerization. Swelling/deswelling behavior and the structure of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) based microgel particles were investigated. A combination of dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) was used. Particle size and the volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) are adjustable by changing the amount of comonomer. SANS measurements indicate an inhomogeneous structure of the PEG microgels in the swollen state. At temperatures above the VPTT a compact structure was observed. An increase of the comonomer content leads to a densely packed core and a fuzzy shell in the swollen state. Additionally, nanodomains inside the polymer network were observed in the temperature range around the volume phase transition (VPT). Due to this heterogeneous structure in the swollen state two correlation lengths of the network fluctuations were observed.     

Microstructure and rheological properties of thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgels

The microstructure and rheological properties of thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microgels cross-linked with methylenebis-acrylamide (BA) were examined by dynamic light scattering and rheological techniques. As the temperature was increased from 10 to 50 °C, the particles diameter decreased by approximately two times near the volume phase transition temperature, T_v of between 30 and 35 °C. The addition of salt to the microgel dispersion provides competition for the water molecules hydrating the PNIPAM chains thus weakening the PNIPAM-H₂O hydrogen bonds and the microgel progressively deswelled. The validity and limitation of the semi-empirical approach to model charged soft microgel particles developed previously were tested on this thermo-responsive system. A variable specific volume, k was introduced to convert the mass concentration to effective volume fraction. With increasing concentration, inter-particle repulsive force was enhanced, which overcame the osmotic force inside the soft particle, resulting in the expulsion of solvent from the swollen particles, and the particle shrank. The viscosity data for PNIPAM microgels at varying solution temperatures and ionic strength showed excellent agreement with the modified Krieger-Dougherty (K-D) model.     

Electrospun fibers loaded with ball-milled poly(n-isopropylacrylamide) microgel particles for smart delivery applications

Stimuli-responsive electrospun fibers loaded with therapeutic agents for smart delivery are attractive biomedical applications. However, development of such fibers requires the use of complex chemical processes that can induce toxicity, reduce fiber quality, or prohibit fiber electrospinnablity. To address these challenges, core-shell structured fibers capable of temperature-controlled delivery of nanoparticles were developed. The fiber core contained an aqueous suspension of poly(n-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microgel particles and silver nanoparticles (model antibacterial drug). A novel use of ball-milling was applied to produce microgel particles with an average hydrodynamic diameter of 511 ± 100 nm. The ball-milling technique was developed to avoid the current complex chemical processes for syntheses of microgels, and to address the need for high-yield techniques in industrial manufacturing. The results show that the thermoresponsive properties of the PNIPAM hydrogel particles were preserved during the ball-milling process. The fiber shell formed a strong structure matrix, regulated the nanoparticles release pathway (through open pores formed via selective dissolution of porogen), and served as a barrier to prevent direct contact of microgel particles with tissues. This core-shell fiber design allows for the future application of various therapeutic agents, including fragile and bioactive agents, and microgel particles with special properties.     

Preparation and characterization of sodium alginate/poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide)/clay semi-IPN magnetic hydrogels

pH- and temperature-responsive semi-interpenetrating magnetic nanocomposite hydrogels (NC hydrogels) were prepared by using linear sodium alginate (SA), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with inorganic clay as an effective multifunctional cross-linker. The effects of cross-linker and SA contents on various physical properties were investigated. The NC hydrogels exhibited a volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) around 32 °C with no significant deviation from the conventional chemically cross-linked PNIPAM hydrogels (OR hydrogels). The swelling ratios of NC hydrogels were much larger than those of OR hydrogels. Moreover, the swelling ratios of NC hydrogels gradually decreased with increasing the contents of clay and increased with increasing the contents of SA. The pH sensitivity of NC hydrogels was evident below their VPTT. The NC hydrogels had a much better mechanical property than the OR hydrogels. The results showed that the incorporation of clay did not affect the saturation magnetization of the hydrogels.     

Thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanocapsules with controlled permeability

In this paper, novel thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) nanocapsules with temperature-tunable diameter and permeability are reported. Firstly, the core-shell composite microparticles were synthesized by precipitation polymerization with isothiocyanate fluorescein (FITC) entrapped SiO₂ as core and cross-linked PNIPAM as shell. Then, the SiO₂ core was etched by hydrofluoric acid at certain condition and the pre-trapped FITC molecules remained within the inner cavity. The FITC release profile and TEM studies clearly indicate that the release behavior of FITC could be controlled effectively by the external temperature. Above the LCST of PNIPAM (32 °C), the dehydrated PNIPAM shell inhibited the release of FITC from the internal cavity while below its LCST, the fluorophore could permeate the swollen shell easily.