The Two Phase Transitions of Hydrophobically End-Capped Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)s in Water

Controlling the LCST-Phase Transition in Azobenzene-Functionalized Poly (N-Isopropylacrlyamide) Hydrogels by Light

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) PNIPAAm hydrogels were modified with a new azobenzene-containing co-monomer. In this work, light responsiveness as an additional functionality, is conceptualized to induce two phase transitions in the same material, which can be controlled by light. For a hydrogel with merely 2.5 mol% of this co-monomer, the lower critical solution transition temperature (LCST) was lowered by 12 °C (to 20 °C) compared to PNIPAAm (LCST at 32 °C), as analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The untreated unimodal endotherm split into a bimodal peak upon irradiation with UV-light, giving a second onset due to the switched (Z) isomer-rich regions, LCST*_H2.5%-(Z) = 26 °C. On irradiation with 450 nm, leading to the reverse (Z) to (E) isomerization, the endotherm was also reversible. Thus, a photo-switchable hydrogel whose LCST and structure are tunable with the hydrophobicity-hydrophilicity of the (E) and (Z) isomeric state of azobenzene was obtained. The influence of the increase in the mol% of azoacrylate on the LCST was evaluated via DSC, in combination with NMR studies, UV-vis spectroscopy and control experiments with linear polymers. The large light-driven modulation of the LCST adds bistability in thermoresponsive hydrogels, which may open diverse applications in the field of soft robotics actuators.

Role of chain architecture in the solution phase assembly and thermoreversibility of aqueous PNIPAM/silyl methacrylate copolymers

Stimuli-responsive polymers functionalized with reactive inorganic groups enable creation of macromolecular structures such as hydrogels, micelles, and coatings that demonstrate smart behavior. Prior studies using poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide-co-3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate) (P(NIPAM-co-TMA)) have stabilized micelles and produced functional nanoscale coatings; however, such systems show limited responsiveness over multiple thermal cycles. Here, polymer architecture and TMA content are connected to the aqueous self-assembly, optical response, and thermo-reversibility of two distinct types of PNIPAM/TMA copolymers: random P(NIPAM-co-TMA), and a 'blocky-functionalized' copolymer where TMA is localized to one portion of the chain, P(NIPAM-b-NIPAM-co-TMA). Aqueous solution behavior characterized via cloud point testing (CPT), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and variable-temperature nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) demonstrates that thermoresponsiveness and thermoreversibility over multiple cycles is a strong function of polymer configuration and TMA content. Despite low TMA content (≤2% mol), blocky-functionalized copolymers assemble into small, well-ordered structures above the cloud point that lead to distinct transmittance behaviors and stimuli-responsiveness over multiple cycles. Conversely, random copolymers form disordered aggregates at elevated temperatures, and only exhibit thermoreversibility at negligible TMA fractions (0.5% mol); higher TMA content leads to irreversible structure formation. This understanding of the architectural and assembly effects on the thermal cyclability of aqueous PNIPAM-co-TMA can be used to improve the scalability of responsive polymer applications requiring thermoreversible behavior, including sensing, separations, and functional coatings.

Actuation of Hydrogel Architectures Prepared by Electrophoretic Adhesion of Thermoresponsive Microgels

Owing to their unique properties, hydrogels may be used for preparing soft actuators. Soft actuators are expected to respond quickly; however, the response speed of gels is slow. To study this issue and overcome it, thermoresponsive soft actuators were prepared by the electrophoretic adhesion of cationic and anionic thermoresponsive microgels, comprising poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and poly(styrenesulfonate) sodium salt, respectively. The kinetics of the prepared hydrogel architectures in response to temperature depended on the microgel diameter instead of the architecture size. We also prepared bilayered hydrogel architectures by adhesion of thermoresponsive and/or nonthermoresponsive microgels. These bent rapidly in response to temperature because these architectures consisted of microgel assemblies. In addition, specific bending motion was demonstrated by the adhesion of microgel layers of different sizes. The present study provides not only a guideline for the design of hydrogel actuators with quick response but also presents a method for the free-form fabrication of functional hydrogel materials that undergo complex motions in response to stimuli.

Phase Separation of Aqueous Poly(diisopropylaminoethyl methacrylate) upon Heating

Poly(diisopropylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDPA) is a pH- and thermally responsive water-soluble polymer. This study deepens the understanding of its phase separation behavior upon heating. Phase separation upon heating was investigated in salt solutions of varying pH and ionic strength. The effect of the counterion on the phase transition upon heating is clearly demonstrated for chloride-, phosphate-, and citrate-anions. Phase separation did not occur in pure water. The buffer solutions exhibited similar cloud points, but phase separation occurred in different pH ranges and with different mechanisms. The solution behavior of a block copolymer comprising poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) and PDPA was investigated. Since the PDMAEMA and PDPA blocks phase separate within different pH- and temperature ranges, the block copolymer forms micelle-like structures at high temperature or pH.

Heat-Induced Flower Nanogels of Both Cholesterol End-Capped Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)s in Water

Thermoresponsive self-assembled nanogels were conveniently prepared by cholesterol end-capped poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) in water. Both cholesterol end-capped PNIPAMs (telelchelic cholesterol PNIPAM, tCH-PNIPAM) formed flower-like nanogels by the self-assembling of four to five polymer chains with multiple domains of cholesterol in water at 20 °C. Meanwhile, one end-group cholesterol-capped PNIPAM (semitelechelic cholesterol PNIPAM, stCH-PNIPAM) was also formed as a nanogel by the self-assembling of 15-20 polymer chains with 3 to 4 cholesterol domains. The hydrophobic cholesterol domains of tCH-PNIPAM nanogels were maintained above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAM (>32 °C). Differently, the hydrophobic domains of stCH-PNIPAM were disrupted by cholesterol-free PNIPAM chain ends and formed large mesoglobules above the LCST. These transition controls of hydrophilic end-capped smart polymers may open new methodologies to design thermoresponsive nanosystems.

Impact of small molecule and reverse poloxamer addition on the micellization and gelation mechanisms of poloxamer hydrogels

Poloxamer 407 (P407) is widely used for targeted drug-delivery because it exhibits thermoresponsive gelation behavior near body temperature, stemming from a disorder-to-order transition. Hydrophobic small molecules can be encapsulated within P407; however, these additives often negatively impact the rheological properties and lower the gelation temperatures of the hydrogels, limiting their clinical utility. Here we investigate the impact of adding two BAB reverse poloxamers (RPs), 25R4 and 31R1, on the thermal transitions, rheological properties, and assembled structures of P407 both with and without incorporated small molecules. By employing a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheology, and small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), we determine distinct mechanisms for RP incorporation. While 25R4 addition promotes inter-micelle bridge formation, the highly hydrophobic 31R1 co-micellizes with P407. Small molecule addition lowers thermal transition temperatures and increases the micelle size, while RP addition mitigates the decreases in modulus traditionally associated with small molecule incorporation. This fundamental understanding yields new strategies for tuning the mechanical and structural properties of the hydrogels, enabling design of drug-loaded formulations with ideal thermal transitions for a range of clinical applications.

Thermoresponsive Fluorescence Switches Based on Au@pNIPAM Nanoparticles

Despite numerous studies emphasizing the plasmonic impact on fluorescence, the design of a dynamic system allowing on-demand fluorescence switching in a single nanostructure remains challenging. The reversibility of fluorescence switching and the versatility of the approach, in particular its compatibility with a wide range of nanoparticles and fluorophores, are among the main experimental difficulties. In this work, we achieve reversible fluorescence switching by coupling metal nanoparticles with fluorophores through stimuli-responsive organic linkers. As a proof of concept, we link gold nanoparticles with fluorescein through thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) at a tunable grafting density and characterize their size and optical response by dynamic light scattering, absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopies. We show that the fluorescence emission of these hybrid nanostructures can be switched on-demand using the thermoresponsive properties of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). The described system presents a general strategy for the design of nanointerfaces, exhibiting reversible fluorescence switching via external control of metal nanoparticle/fluorophore distance.

Synthesis, Thermoresponsive Behavior, and Catalytic Properties of Amphiphilic Diblock Copolymers of N-Vinylcaprolactam and N-Vinylimidazole

Abstract

Thermoresponsive diblock copolymers (DCs) were prepared by two-stage reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer/macromolecular design by interchange of xanthate (RAFT/MADIX) polymerization of N-vinylcaprolactam and N-vinylimidazole (VI). The poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) blocks were first synthesized and used as macro-chain transfer agent in VI polymerization. The temperature behavior of PVCL and DCs in aqueous media has been studied by static and dynamic light scattering. It has been shown that the phase separation temperature of both PVCLs and DCs depends on the length of the PVCL chain and the composition of aqueous solvent. The temperature range above the PVCL θ temperature and below the cloud point is characterized by the conformational rearrangements leading to the formation of mesoglobules. The study of catalytic activity of DCs in the hydrolysis reaction of p-nitrophenyl propionate has shown that their activity substantially increases in this transitional temperature region owing to the formation of highly developed hydrophilic–hydrophobic interfaces inside the mesoglobules.

Phase Transition Behavior and Catalytic Activity of Poly(N-acryloylglycinamide-co-methacrylic acid) Microgels

Poly(N-acryloyl glycinamide) is a well-known thermoresponsive polymer possessing an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) in water. By copolymerizing N-acryloyl glycinamide (NAGA) with methacrylic acid (MAA) in the presence of a crosslinker, poly(N-acryloyl glycinamide-co-methacrylic acid) [P(NAGA-MAA)] copolymer microgels with an MAA molar fraction of 10-70 mol % were obtained. The polymerization kinetics suggests that the copolymer microgels have a random structure. The size of the microgels was between 60 and 120 nm in the non-aggregated swollen state in aqueous medium and depending on the solvent conditions, they show reversible swelling and shrinking upon temperature change. Their phase transition behavior was studied by a combination of methods to understand the process of the UCST-type behavior and interactions between NAGA and MAA. P(NAGA-MAA) microgels were loaded with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by the reduction of AgNO₃ under UV light. Compared with the chemical reduction of AgNO₃, the photoreduction results in smaller AgNPs and the amount and size of the AgNPs are dependent on the comonomer ratio. The catalytic activity of the AgNP-loaded microgels in 4-nitrophenol reduction was tested.