四乙基氢氧化铵改性聚偏氟乙烯接枝聚丙烯酸油水分离膜的制备

使用四乙基氢氧化铵(TEAH)液相本体改性聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF), 以过氧化苯甲酰(BPO)为引发剂, 将丙烯酸(AA)接枝到改性PVDF骨架上, 合成了聚偏氟乙烯接枝聚丙烯酸(PVDF-g-PAA)共聚物, 通过浸没沉淀法制备了PVDF-g-PAA亲水性油水分离膜. 通过傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)、 扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和过滤试验分析了膜的结构和分离性能. 研究了不同接枝条件对PVDF-g-PAA膜接枝率的影响. 同时, 通过膜接枝率与膜表面接触角的关系确定最佳接枝条件. 结果表明, TEAH使PVDF脱去HF产生碳碳双键且PAA接枝到改性的PVDF骨架上, 膜内外孔隙分布均匀; PVDF-g-PAA膜的接触角随着接枝率的提高而降低. 接枝单体AA含量为45%, 接枝温度为85 ℃, 接枝4 h制备的PVDF-g-PAA膜的接枝率为20.1%, 孔隙度为65.3%, 平均孔径为78.0 nm, 接触角为57.5°, 且在60 s内接触角降至14.3°; 纯水通量提高到571.33 L/(m²·h), 截留率和水通量恢复率分别达到94.3%和88.7%, 且通量衰减率仅为9.8%. 与纯PVDF膜相比, PVDF-g-PAA膜的分离性能显著提高.     

TMAH改性PVDF一步接枝PSBMA质子交换膜的制备与性能

使用四甲基氢氧化铵(TMAH)液相改性聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF),以过氧化苯甲酰(BPO)为引发剂,一步将磺酸基甲基丙烯酸甲酯(SBMA)接枝到改性的PVDF上,制备了聚偏氟乙烯接枝聚磺酸基甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PVDFg-PSBMA)质子交换膜.利用傅里叶变换红外(FTIR)光谱和扫描电镜-X射线能谱(SEM-EDX)分析了膜的结构、形貌及硫元素分布情况.同时研究了不同质量分数的TMAH甲醇溶液对PVDF-g-PSBMA膜电导率和甲醇渗透率的影响.结果表明, TMAH使PVDF脱去HF产生碳碳双键且SBMA成功接枝到改性的PVDF骨架上,硫元素在膜内外分布均匀; PVDF-g-PSBMA膜的电导率和甲醇渗透率随TMAH在甲醇中质量分数的增多而增大, TMAH质量分数为20%的膜的质子电导率在20 ℃下达到0.0892 S·cm^-1,常温下的甲醇渗透率为4.04 × 10^-7cm²·s^-1;热重分析(TGA)表明,膜的热稳定性良好,耐热温度高达270 ℃.该膜作为电解质材料的直接甲醇燃料电池(DMFC)的最大功率密度达到17.06 mW·cm^-2.     

一种温敏型超大孔生物分离介质的制备及表征

采用改性琼脂糖对超大孔聚苯乙烯微球进行亲水化修饰(Agap-PS),通过酰基化反应在微球表面引入溴乙酰基(Agap-PS-Br),然后利用原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)反应在Agap-PS-Br表面接枝温敏聚合物刷,得到一种温敏型超大孔生物分离介质(Agap-PS-PNIPAM).考察了配体、催化剂、溶剂和温度对N-异丙基丙烯酰胺ATRP反应的影响,在优化条件下PNIPAM的接枝量达到了15.07 mg/m2.采用红外光谱(FTIR)、扫描电镜(SEM)、压汞分析、激光共聚焦和蛋白吸附等手段对温敏型超大孔生物分离介质进行一系列表征,结果表明接枝温敏聚合物刷后Agap-PS-PNIPAM具有良好的温敏性,没有堵塞微球的超大孔,微球对蛋白的非特异性吸附大大降低.由于温敏聚合物刷发生了从亲水到疏水构象的转变,40℃时Agap-PS-PNIPAM对蛋白的吸附量是25℃时的2.69倍.压力流速实验表明Agap-PS-PNIPAM柱具有背压低、渗透性和机械稳定性好的优点,同样地由于PNIPAM链在40℃时收缩,此时Agap-PS-PNIPAM柱的床层渗透系数比25℃时提高了15.7％.     

表面引发的原子转移自由基聚合法在聚偏二氟乙烯表面制备可控的聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯刷

采用表面引发的原子转移自由基聚合法(ATRP)在聚偏二氟乙烯(PVDF)表面制备结构可控的聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯刷。通过碱处理和紫外光照溴代的方法,将ATRP引入到PVDF表面; 然后采用ATRP法将甲基丙烯酸甲酯接枝到溴代的PVDF表面。采用傅里叶变换红外光谱和X-射线光电子能谱对改性前后PVDF表面的结构进行了表征。结果表明甲基丙烯酸甲酯成功地接枝到了PVDF表面。     

改性聚偏氟乙烯接枝磺化聚(苯乙烯-co-丙烯酸)膜的研制

以过氧化苯甲酰(BPO)作引发剂,通过溶液接枝聚合法把苯乙烯/丙烯酸同时接枝到原硅酸钠改性的聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)膜上,磺化后得到聚偏氟乙烯接枝磺化聚(苯乙烯-co-丙烯酸)膜(PVDF-g-P(SSA-co-AA)).研究了苯乙烯和丙烯酸的不同比例对膜的接枝反应及其相对湿度对膜电导率和含水量的影响.用傅立叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)检测原硅酸钠改性的PVDF膜经过接枝和磺化后所发生的结构变化,并用扫描电镜(SEM)观察PVDF膜接枝前后的形貌以及接枝磺化后产物PVDF-g-P(SSA-co-AA)膜的形貌及硫和硅分布.结果表明,原硅酸钠改性的PVDF膜与苯乙烯/丙烯酸同时发生接枝聚合反应,环境的相对湿度在20%～80%范围,对添加10wt%Na4SiO4的PVDF-g-P(SSA-co-AA)膜的电导率的影响基本不变,并达到0.0198S·cm-1.原硅酸钠改性的PVDF膜结构在接枝前后和磺化前后发生变化,确认磺化反应不只是在膜表面,同时渗入膜中进行.     

甲基丙烯酸甲酯在聚偏氟乙烯膜上的辐照接枝

采用电子加速器(EB)预辐照接枝的方法,在聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)膜上接枝甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA),制备了PVDF-g-PMMA膜。研究了辐照剂量、单体浓度、反应温度、反应时间以及溶剂等因素对接枝率的影响规律。结果表明,接枝率随辐照剂量的增大而增加;反应初期接枝率随着单体质量分数的增大迅速增加,当单体质量分数达40%时,增加缓慢;单体质量分数达70%时,接枝率最高;从40℃开始接枝率缓慢上升,至60℃时陡增,之后接枝率基本不变;醇类是接枝反应很好的溶剂。用FT-IR、DSC分析了接枝物的组成及热性能。接枝膜成分为PVDF-g-PMMA共聚物,接枝膜在117℃处出现Tg峰,随着接枝率的增加该峰越来越明显,说明发生了接枝反应。随着接枝率的增加,熔融峰左移并最终消失,说明PMMA的接枝破坏了原PVDF膜的结晶性。吸液率随着浸泡时间的增加而增大,PVDF接枝膜达到的最大吸液率为290%,所需要的时间比原PVDF膜长。接枝率为50%的PVDF膜的离子电导率为6.0×10-3S/cm,吸液率达290%,MMA的接枝改善了PVDF电解质膜的电学性能。     

棉纤维的N-异丙基丙烯酰胺接枝共聚及产物的温敏性研究

以硝酸铈铵(CAN)、过硫酸钾(KPS)及H2O2/H2A(双氧水/抗坏血酸)为引发体系,采用溶液自由基接枝法制备了具有温敏性的棉纤维N-异丙基丙烯酰胺接枝共聚物(cotton-g-PNIPAAm);在上述3种引发剂作用下的接枝反应可以达到的接枝率(G)排序为G(H2O2/H2A)>G(KPS)>G(CAN);研究了其他因素如引发剂浓度、反应时间、反应温度和单体浓度等对接枝率的影响,得出了优化的接枝反应条件;接枝样品的FTIR分析图谱和SEM观察均表明样品表面已接枝了聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺;DSC分析显示,棉纤维N-异丙基丙烯酰胺接枝共聚物的低临界溶解温度(LCST)与纯的聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺凝胶(LCST=32.48℃)相似,约为32~33℃;接枝率的变化对试样LCST的影响很小,但其可逆焓变(ΔH)会随接枝率的提高而增加;采用滴水试验法(AATCC 79)和毛效试验法(FZ/T 01071)检测棉纤维的N-异丙基丙烯酰胺接枝共聚物在不同温度时的吸水性变化,显示试样具有温敏特性,其中接枝率介于25%~45%的试样温敏性较高,过低或过高的接枝率均不利于获得高的温敏性;棉纤维的N-异丙基丙烯酰胺接枝共聚物试样的可逆焓变(ΔH)随试样膨胀/收缩时间变化的研究和分析结果表明,棉纤维的N-异丙基丙烯酰胺接枝共聚物对温度变化的响应比纯聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺凝胶快.     

超亲水聚偏氟乙烯中空纤维膜的制备及性能

采用超声辅助接枝聚合技术, 将甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯(GMA)接枝到聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)膜表面, 制备PVDF-g-GMA膜; 再利用氨基诱导环氧基团发生开环反应, 将苏氨酸(Thr)接枝到PVDF-g-GMA膜表面, 制备了具有两性离子结构表面的PVDF-g-GMA-Thr膜. 通过衰减全反射傅里叶变换红外光谱(ATR-FTIR)、 X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、 接触角测试仪、 场发射扫描电子显微镜(FESEM)和牛血清白蛋白(BSA)过滤实验等系统研究了改性前后PVDF膜表面的化学组成、 润湿性能、 表面形貌和抗污染性能. 研究结果表明, 随着PVDF-g-GMA接枝Thr反应时间的增加, PVDF-g-GMA-Thr膜的亲水性能明显提高, 接触角从90°降为0°, 呈现出超亲水性能. 同时PVDF-g-GMA-Thr膜的水通量明显提高, 当Thr诱导开环反应时间为12 h时, PVDF-g-GMA-Thr膜的水通量高达686 L/(m ²·h), 与PVDF原膜相比, 水通量提高了204.5%. 在BSA的过滤测试中, 与PVDF膜相比, PVDF-g-GMA-Thr膜呈现出良好的截留性能和抗污染性能, BSA截留率从42%提高到84%,水通量恢复率从53%提高到87%, 不可逆污染率从47%降到12%, 表明通过接枝Thr构筑两性离子结构表面可以有效减小膜污染.     

原子转移自由基聚合技术用于以单分散树脂为基质的温敏色谱固定相的制备及性能评价

以α-溴异丁酰溴为引发剂,CuCl/CuCl2/2,2′-联二吡啶(Bpy)为催化体系,在室温条件下通过原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)使N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(NIPAM)键合在单分散交联聚甲基丙烯酸环氧丙酯树脂（PGMA/EDMA 树脂）表面,制备了具有温敏性的聚合物色谱填料,并用元素分析、红外光谱等对其进行了表征;详细考察了该填料对芳香烃化合物的分离性能、温敏性能、稳定性和重现性。元素分析得出NIPAM单体的接枝率为10.4%;通过改变温度,可以有效地分离对羟基苯甲醛、邻甲酚和4-丁基苯胺3种混合物。结果表明,所合成的固定相具有很好的色谱性能和温敏性能,稳定性和重现性良好。     

聚偏氟乙烯接枝甲基丙烯酸甲酯油水分离膜的研究

使用四乙基氢氧化铵(TEAH)液相本体改性聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF),以过氧化苯甲酰(BPO)为引发剂,将甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)接枝到改性PVDF骨架上,合成聚偏氟乙烯接枝聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PVDF-gPMMA)共聚物,通过浸没沉淀法制备PVDF-g-PMMA亲水性油水分离膜.通过傅里叶红外光谱(FTIR)、扫描电镜(SEM)和过滤试验分析了膜的结构和性能.同时研究了TEAH浓度和改性时间对PVDF-g-PMMA膜表面接触角的影响.结果表明,TEAH使PVDF脱去HF产生碳碳双键且MMA成功接枝到改性的PVDF骨架上,膜内外孔隙分布均匀;PVDF-g-PMMA膜的接触角随着TEAH浓度的增加、改性时间的加长而减小.TEAH浓度为2.0 wt%,改性20 min制备的PVDF-g-PMMA膜,接枝率为27.1%,孔隙度为71.6%,平均孔径为78.9 nm,接触角降至55.9°,且在50 s内降为0;纯水通量提高到665.34 L/(m2·h),截留率和水通量恢复率分别达到95.6%和90.1%.与纯PVDF膜相比,PVDF-g-PMMA膜的分离性能显著提高.     

A pH- and temperature-sensitive macrocyclic graft copolymer composed of PEO ring and multi-poly(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) lateral chains

A novel method for the synthesis of macrocyclic graft copolymers was developed through combination of anionic ring-opening polymerization (AROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). A linear α,ω-dihydroxyl poly(ethylene oxide) with pendant acetal protected hydroxyl groups (l-poly(EO-co-EEGE)) was prepared first by the anionic copolymerization of ethylene oxide (EO) and ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether (EEGE). Then l-poly(EO-co-EEGE) was cyclized. The crude cyclized product containing the linear byproduct was hydrolyzed and purified by being treated with α-CD. The pure cyclic copolymer [c-poly(EO-co-Gly)] was esterified by reaction with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide, and then used as ATRP macroinitiators to initiate polymerization of 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), and a series of pH- and temperature-sensitive macrocyclic graft copolymers composed of a hydrophilic PEO as the ring and PDMAEMA as side chains (c-PEO-g-PDMAEMA) were obtained. The behavior of pH- and temperature-sensitive macrocyclic copolymers was studied in aqueous solution by fluorescence and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The critical micellization pH values of macrocyclic graft copolymers and their corresponding linear graft copolymers (l-PEO-g-PDMAEMA) were measured. Under the same conditions, the cyclic graft copolymer with the shorter side chains gave the higher critical micellization pH value. The c-PEO-g-PDMAEMA showed the lower critical micellization pH value than the corresponding l-PEO-g-PDMAEMA. The average hydrodynamic diameters (D _h) of the micelles were measured by DLS with the variation of the aqueous solution pH value and temperature.     

Graft polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate via ATRP with poly(acrylonitrile-co-p-chloromethyl styrene) as a macroinitiator

Amphiphilic graft copolymers are excellent additives for the development of antifouling membranes by nonsolvent induced phase separation. We report a convenient approach to the synthesis of novel graft copolymers with hydrophobic polyacrylonitrile (PAN) backbones and hydrophilic poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) side chains. Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate was carried out with poly(acrylonitrile-co-p-chloromethyl styrene) (PAN-co-PCMS) as a macroinitiator in the presence of CuCl/2,2’-bipyridine at 50 °C in dimethyl sulfoxide. Kinetics of the graft polymerization was also evaluated. The synthesis of poly(acrylonitrile-co-p-chloromethyl styrene-g-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PAN-co-(PCMS-g-PHEMA)) can be relatively controlled when CMS (the ATRP sites) unit in the macroinitiator is around 5 mol%. Both the macroinitiators and graft copolymers were characterized by FTIR, NMR and GPC. The surface morphology and wettability of the copolymer films were studied by AFM and water contact angle measurement, respectively. We demonstrate that phase segregation between the PAN-co-PCMS backbones and the PHEMA side chains takes place and the surface hydrophilicity of the graft copolymers increases with the length of the PHEMA side chains. Because these amphiphilic graft copolymers can be synthesized in mass, they will be useful as latent additives for the fabrication of advanced PAN separation membranes.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Sulfonated Polyphosphazene-graft-Polystyrene Copolymersfor Proton Exchange Membranes简

A novel series of polyphosphazene-grafl-polystyrene （PP-g-PS） copolymers were successfully prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization （ATRP） of styrene monomers and brominated poly（bis（4-methylphenoxy）phosphazene） macroinitiator. The graft density and the graft length could be regulated by changing the bromination degree of the macroinitiator and the ATRP reaction time, respectively. The PP-g-PS copolymers readily underwent a regioselective sulfonation reaction, which occurred preferentially at the polystyrene sites, producing the sulfonated PP-g-PS copolymers with a range of ion exchange capacities. The resulting sulfonated PP-g-PS membranes prepared by solution casting showed high water uptake, low water swelling and considerable proton conductivity. They also exhibited good oxidative stability and high resistance to methanol crossover. Morphological studies of the membranes by transmission electron microscopy showed clear nanophase-separated structures resulted from hydrophobic polyphosphazene backbone and hydrophilic polystyrene sulfonic acid segments, indicating the formation of proton transferring tunnels. Therefore, these sulfonated copolymers may be candidate materials for proton exchange membranes in direct methanol fuel cell （DMFC） applications.     

Linear and comb‐like acrylonitrile/N‐isopropylacrylamide copolymers synthesized by the combination of RAFT polymerization and ATRP

We describe the synthesis of three novel thermoresponsive copolymers of acrylonitrile (AN) with N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) by a combination of reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Linear copolymer polyacrylonitrile (PAN)‐b‐PNIPAM was directly prepared by RAFT polymerization. Comb‐like copolymers were synthesized by ATRP using brominated AN/2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate copolymers as macroinitiators, which were prepared by RAFT polymerization. FT‐IR, NMR, and GPC were employed to characterize the synthesized copolymers. Results indicate that the polymerization processes can be well controlled and the resultant copolymers have well‐defined structures as well as narrow polydispersity. Then dense films were fabricated from these thermoresponsive copolymers and the surface wettability was evaluated by water contact angle measurements at different temperatures. It is found that the surface wettability is temperature‐dependant and both the transition temperature and decrement of water contact angle are affected by the copolymer shapes as well as the length of PNIPAM blocks. Considering the excellent fiber‐ and membrane‐forming properties of PAN‐based copolymers, the obtained thermoresponsive copolymers are latent materials for functional fibers and membranes. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 92–102, 2009     

原子转移自由基聚合及可控自由基聚合

以作者在原子转移自由基聚合领域的研究成果为主导,结合国内外文献,对近年来出现的颇具影响的可控自由基聚合体系与进行了评述与展望。     

Mechanistic and Synthetic Aspects of Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Abstract

Mechanistic and synthetic aspects of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) are reviewed. This controlled/“living” system polymerizes many monomers including styrenes, (meth)acrylates, acrylonitrile and dienes. The halogen end groups can be converted to other functional groups such as amines and azides. In addition to producing well-defined linear homopolymers, statistical copolymers, block copolymers, and gradient copolymers, ATRP can be used to synthesize graft and hyperbranched copolymers through copolymerization with functionalized monomers. Selection of appropriate conditions for ATRP depends on targeted molecular weight and degree of polymer chain end-functionality and includes considering the monomer(s) to be polymerized, initiator structure/reactivity, amount of catalyst/deactivator used, halogen end-group used, and temperature.     

The synthesis and solution behaviors of novel amphiphilic block copolymers based on d-galactopyranose and 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate

A series of novel stimuli-responsive AB, ABA, and BAB type block copolymers based on 6-O-methacryloyl-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-d-galactopyranose (MAIpGP:A block) and 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA: B block) were synthesized via ATRP techniques using ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate (EBiB) as monofunctional ATRP initiator in the case of diblock copolymer and diethyl meso-2,5-dibromoadipate (DEDBA) as bifunctional ATRP initiator in the case of triblock copolymers. The PMAIpGP blocks of the AB, ABA, and BAB type linear block copolymers were converted to water soluble PMAGP blocks via deprotection process under mild acidic conditions. Both proton NMR and DLS studies demonstrated that block copolymers were temperature-sensitive, whereby the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of polymers varied with the polymerization degrees of comonomers in the block copolymers. LCST was determined to be between ∼35 °C and 55 °C depending on the type and the comonomer compositions of the block copolymers. It was observed that an increase on the percentage of hydrophilic PMAGP block in block copolymer caused an increase on the LCST value as expected.     

两亲性共聚物的分子设计与合成及其共混膜性能

从分子结构设计出发,采用自由基聚合、醚化、酯化、原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)、可逆加成断裂链转移自由基聚合(RAFT)等方法合成了一系列具有不同分子结构(包括接枝、嵌段、交替、超支化等)和链形态(包括直链、梳状、哑铃状、链球状等)的两亲性共聚物,并对这些聚合物进行了谱学表征和性能测试.将这些两亲性共聚物与聚合物膜材料(包括聚偏氟乙烯、聚氯乙烯、聚砜、聚醚砜、聚醚砜酮等)进行溶液共混,通过相转化法制备共混膜,在成膜热力学和动力学分析的基础上,对共混膜的结构和性能进行调控.研究发现,两亲性共聚物在成膜过程中自发地向膜表面迁移富集,并进行自组装,在膜表面形成两亲性共聚物包膜,显著改善了聚合物多孔膜的亲水性和抗污染性能.此外,两亲性共聚物中的功能基团还可赋予共混膜某些功能特性,如生物相容性、环境响应性(pH、温度敏感性)、酶活性等.     

A novel semi-fluorinated graft copolymer containing perfluorocyclobutyl aryl ether-based backbone

The synthesis of a series of novel semi-fluorinated graft copolymers bearing perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aryl ether-based backbone and polystyrene side chains is described. This work initially focused on the synthesis of a trifluorovinyl ether (TFVE) monomer containing a bromine atom, which could be employed as an initiating site for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Thermal cyclopolymerization of this TFVE monomer provided a macromolecular initiator followed by subsequent initiating ATRP of styrene to afford the desired PFCB aryl ether-based graft copolymers.     

Synthesis and characterization of temperature-sensitive cellulose-graft-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) copolymers

A new series of cellulose-graft-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(cellulose-g-PNIPAM) copolymers were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization(ATRP) of N-isopropylacrylamide monomers from a cellulose-based macro-initiator, which was homogeneously synthesized in an ionic liquid 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride(Amim Cl). The composition of cellulose-g-PNIPAM copolymers could be adjusted by altering the feeding ratio and reaction time. The resultant copolymers with relatively high content of PNIPAM segments(molar substitution of PNIPAM ? 18.3) were soluble in water at room temperature. Aqueous solutions of cellulose-g-PNIPAM copolymers exhibited clear temperature-sensitive behavior, and their sol-to-gel phase transition properties were investigated by dynamic light scattering(DLS) and UV measurements. Compared with pure PNIPAM, the cellulose-g-PNIPAM copolymers possessed higher lower critical solution temperatures(LCST) in a range from 36.9 ?C to 40.8 ?C, which are close to normal human body temperature, and could be tuned by adjusting the content of PNIPAM segments in copolymers. Spherical structure of cellulose-g-PNIPAM copolymers formed at temperatures above LCST and its morphology was observed by TEM and SEM. These novel cellulose-g-PNIPAM copolymers may be attractive substrates for some biomedical applications, such as drug release and tissue engineering.