Synthesis and solution properties of a temperature-responsive PNIPAM–b-PDMS–b-PNIPAM triblock copolymer

Thermoresponsive Glycopolymers Based on Enzymatically Synthesized Oligo-β-Mannosyl Ethyl Methacrylates and N-Isopropylacrylamide

We present here a series of thermoresponsive glycopolymers in the form of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-(2-[β-manno[oligo]syloxy] ethyl methacrylate)s. These copolymers were prepared from oligo-β-mannosyl ethyl methacrylates that were synthesized through enzymatic catalysis, and were subsequently investigated with respect to their aggregation and phase behavior in aqueous solution using a combination of 1H NMR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The thermoresponsive glycopolymers were prepared by conventional free radical copolymerization of different mixtures of 2-(β-manno[oligo]syloxy)ethyl methacrylates (with either one or two saccharide units) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm). The results showed that below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of poly(NIPAm), the glycopolymers readily aggregate into nanoscale structures, partly due to the presence of the saccharide moieties. Above the LCST of poly(NIPAm), the glycopolymers rearrange into a heterogeneous mixture of fractal and disc/globular aggregates. Cryo-TEM and SAXS data demonstrated that the presence of the pendant β-mannosyl moieties in the glycopolymers induces a gradual conformational change over a wide temperature range. Even though the onset of this transition is not different from the LCST of poly(NIPAm), the gradual conformational change offers a variation of the temperature-dependent properties in comparison to poly(NIPAm), which displays a sharp coil-to-globule transition. Importantly, the compacted form of the glycopolymers shows a larger colloidal stability compared to the unmodified poly(NIPAm). In addition, the thermoresponsiveness can be conveniently tuned by varying the sugar unit-length and the oligo-β-mannosyl ethyl methacrylate content.

Preparation of porous semi-IPN temperature-sensitive hydrogel-supported nZVI and its application in the reduction of nitrophenol

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) particles supported on a porous, semi-interpenetrating (semi-IPN), temperature-sensitive composite hydrogel (PNIPAm-PHEMA). nZVI@PNIPAm-PHEMA, was successfully synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, SEM, EDS, XRD and the weighing method. The loading of nZVI was 0.1548 ± 0.0015 g/g and the particle size was 30-100 nm. NZVI was uniformly dispersed on the pore walls inside the PNIPAm-PHEMA. Because of the well-dispersed nZVI, the highly porous structure, and the synergistic effect of PNIPAm-PHEMA, nZVI@PNIPAm-PHEMA showed excellent reductive activity and wide pH applicability. 95% of 4-NP in 100 mL of 400 mg/L 4-NP solution with initial pH 3.0-9.0 could be completely reduced into 4-AP by about 0.0548 g of fresh supported nZVI at 18-25 °C under stirring (110 r/min) within 45 min reaction time. A greater than 99% 4-NP degradation ratio was obtained when the initial pH was 5.0-9.0. The reduction of 4-NP by nZVI@PNIPAm-PHEMA was in agreement with the pseudo-first-order kinetics model with K_obs values of 0.0885-0.101 min^-1. NZVI@PNIPAm-PHEMA was able to be recycled, and about 85% degradation ratio of 4-NP was obtained after its sixth reuse cycle. According to the temperature sensitivity of PNIPAm-PHEMA, nZVI@PNIPAm-PHEMA exhibited very good storage stability, and about 88.9% degradation ratio of 4-NP was obtained after its storage for 30 days. The hybrid reducer was highly efficient for the reduction of 2-NP, 3-NP, 2-chloro-4-nitrophenol and 2-chloro-4-nitrophenol. Our results suggest that PNIPAm-PHEMA could be a good potential carrier, with nZVI@PNIPAm-PHEMA having potential value in the application of reductive degradation of nitrophenol pollutants.

Influence of Grafted Block Copolymer Structure on Thermoresponsiveness of Superparamagnetic Core-Shell Nanoparticles

The morphology and topology of thermoresponsive polymers have a strong impact on their responsive properties. Grafting onto spherical particles has been shown to reduce responsiveness and transition temperatures; grafting of block copolymers has shown that switchable or retained wettability of a surface or particle during desolvation of one block can take place. Here, doubly thermoresponsive block copolymers were grafted onto spherical, monodisperse, and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles to investigate the effect of thermal desolvation on spherical brushes of block copolymers. By inverting the block order, the influence of core proximity on the responsive properties of the individual blocks could be studied as well as their relative influence on the nanoparticle colloidal stability. The inner block was shown to experience a stronger reduction in transition temperature and transition enthalpy compared to the outer block. Still, the outer block also experiences a significant reduction in responsiveness due to the restricted environment in the nanoparticle shell compared to that of the free polymer state. The demonstrated pronounced distance dependence importantly implies the possibility, but also the necessity, to radially tailor polymer hydration transitions for applications such as drug delivery, hyperthermia, and biotechnological separation for which thermally responsive nanoparticles are being developed.