Polymer-Solvent Interactions in Solutions of Thermoresponsive Polymers Studied by NMR and IR Spectroscopy

Summary: NMR relaxation and diffusion coefficient measurements revealed that a portion of water molecules is bound in mesoglobules formed in poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) (PIPMAm) and poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) aqueous solutions above the LCST, with fast exchange between bound and free states (residence time ∼1 ms). Two types of bound water molecules were assigned to water bound inside mesoglobules and on their surface. For highly concentrated PVME/D₂O solutions (c ≥ 20 wt%) a slow exchange was detected by NMR for bound water (residence time = 2.1 s). For PIPMAm aqueous solution IR spectra indicate a two-steps character of the phase transition. For PIPMAm in D₂O/ethanol (EtOH) mixtures the globular structures were observed by NMR at 298 K for certain compositions of the mixed solvent (cononsolvency effect). Virtually no EtOH is bound in these globular structures, in contrast to the temperature-induced globular structures.     

1H NMR study of phase transition of uncharged and negatively charged poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) in D2O solutions

¹H NMR spectroscopy has been applied to the analysis of dynamic-structural changes during temperature-induced phase transition of non-ionized poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) (PIPMAm) and ionized copolymers of N-isopropylmethacrylamide with sodium methacrylate, all in D₂O solutions with various polymer concentrations (c = 0.1-10 wt.-%) and ionic comonomer mole fractions (i = 0-10 mole %). It was found that the formation of compact globular-like structures during the phase transition is independent of polymer concentration for non-ionized samples; the presence of negative charges on the polymer chains leads to a dependence of the phase transition temperature on c and i. Virtually all PIPMAm segments are in globular-like structures for low polymer concentrations; for c ⩾ 1 wt.-%, this holds only for low content i of the ionic comonomer. An increase in c and i leads to a decrease in the fraction of polymer segments in globular-like structures; for samples with highest values of c and i, the phase transition was not observed.     

NMR study of phase separation in D2O/ethanol solutions of poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) induced by solvent composition and temperature

¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies were applied to investigate phase separation in solutions of poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) (PIPMAm) in D₂O/ethanol (EtOH) mixtures induced by solvent composition (cononsolvency) and temperature. Effects of EtOH content in D₂O/EtOH mixtures and temperature on the appearance and extent of the phase separation were characterized. Differences in mesoglobules formed during the phase separation induced by cononsolvency and temperature were found. For temperature-induced phase separation, ¹³C spin-spin relaxation times showed that besides the free EtOH expelled from the PIPMAm mesoglobules, there are also EtOH molecules bound in these mesoglobules. On the other hand, virtually no bound EtOH molecules were detected for mesoglobules formed as a consequence of the cononsolvency. For PIPMAm random copolymers containing negatively charged methacrylate units the phase separation induced by solvent composition was not observed.     

Stimuli-Responsive Polymers in Solution Investigated by NMR and Infrared Spectroscopy

Summary: Temperature-induced and solvent composition-induced phase separation in solutions of poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) (PIPMAm) and other thermoresponsive polymers as studied by NMR and infrared (IR) spectroscopy is discussed. The fraction p of phase-separated units (units with significantly reduced mobility) and subsequently, e.g., thermodynamic parameters characterizing the coil-globule phase transition induced by temperature, were determined from reduced integrated intensities in high-resolution ¹H NMR spectra. This approach can be especially useful in investigations of phase separation in solutions of binary polymer systems. Information on behaviour of water during temperature-induced phase transition was obtained from measurements of ¹H NMR relaxation times of HDO molecules. NMR and IR spectroscopy were used to investigate PIPMAm solutions in water/ethanol (D₂O/EtOH) mixtures where the phase separation can be induced by solvent composition (cononsolvency). Some differences in globular-like structures induced by temperature and solvent composition were revealed by these methods.     

Poly(N-phenyl-2-hydroxytrimethylene amine): Its blends with poly(ϵ-caprolactone) and water-soluble polyethers

A new polymer with pendant hydroxyl groups, namely, poly(N-phenyl-2-hydroxytrime-thylene amine) (PHA), was synthesized by a direct condensation polymerization of aniline and epichlorohydrin in an alkaline medium. The new polymer is amorphous with a glass transition temperature (T_g) of 70°C. Blends of PHA with poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL), as well as with two water-soluble polyethers, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME), were prepared by casting from a common solvent. It was found that all the three blends were miscible and showed a single, composition dependent glass transition temperature (T_g). FTIR studies revealed that PHA can form hydrogen bonds with PCL, PEO, and PVME, which are driving forces for the miscibility of the blends. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

1H NMR relaxation study of polymer-solvent interactions during thermotropic phase transition in aqueous solutions

The dynamic-structural changes and polymer - solvent interactions during the thermotropic phase transition in poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME)/D₂O solutions in a broad range of polymer concentrations (c = 0.1-60 wt.-%) were studied combining the measurements of ¹H NMR spectra, spin-spin (T₂) and spin-lattice (T₁) relaxation times. Phase separation in solutions results in a marked line broadening of a major part of polymer segments, evidently due to the formation of compact globular-like structures. The minority (∼15%) mobile component, which does not participate in the phase separation, consists of low-molecular-weight fractions of PVME, as shown by GPC. Measurements of spin-spin relaxation times T₂ of PVME methylene protons have shown that globular structures are more compact in dilute solutions in comparison with semidilute solutions where globules probably contain a certain amount of water. A certain portion of water molecules bound at elevated temperatures to (in) PVME globular structures in semidilute and concentrated solutions was revealed from measurements of spin-spin and spin-lattice relaxation times of residual HDO molecules.     

NMR Study on Polymer-Solvent Interactions during Temperature-Induced Phase Separation in Aqueous Polymer Solutions

Some possibilities of NMR spectroscopy (mainly spin-spin relaxation) in investigations of hydration and other polymer-solvent interactions during the temperature-induced phase separation in aqueous polymer solutions are described. A certain portion of water molecules bound in phase-separated mesoglobules was revealed. The residence time of the bound HDO for poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME)/D₂O solution (c = 6 wt%) is 1.2 ms. With time a slow release of originally bound water from the respective mesoglobules was observed. For highly concentrated PVME/D₂O solutions (c = 20–60 wt%), the residence time of bound HDO ≫ 2.7 ms and fractions of bound water unchanged even for 70 h were found. A similar behaviour as described above for water (HDO) was also found for EtOH molecules in PVME/D₂O/EtOH solutions.     

H‐shaped (ABCDE type) quintopolymer via click reaction [3 + 2] strategy

H‐shaped quintopolymer containing different five blocks: poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), polystyrene (PS), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as side chains and poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) (PtBA) as a main chain was simply prepared from a click reaction between azide end‐functionalized PCL‐PS‐PtBA 3‐miktoarm star terpolymer and PEG–PMMA‐block copolymer with alkyne at the junction point, using Cu(I)/N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) as a catalyst in DMF at room temperature for 20 h. The H‐shaped quintopolymer was obtained with a number–average molecular weight (M_n) around 32,000 and low polydispersity index (M_w/M_n) 1.20 as determined by GPC analysis in THF using PS standards. The click reaction efficiency was calculated to have 60% from ¹H NMR spectroscopy. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4459–4468, 2008     

Miscibility of poly(vinyl methyl ether) and poly(styrene-co-2-vinylnaphthalene) blends by FT-IR spectroscopy and Tg measurements

Miscibility of blends consisting of poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) and poly(styreneco-2-vinylnaphthalene) [P(S-co-2VN)] was investigated by means of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and thermal analysis. Copolymers containing 21, 51, and 84 wt % of styrene were synthesized by radical polymerization. Based on optical clarity and glass transition temperatures, it was shown that the miscibility in P(S-co-2VN)/PVME blends is largely affected by compositions of the copolymers as well as concentrations of the blend. From the FT-IR results, the relative intensity at 1100 cm^?1 peak of COCH₃ band of PVME and the position of naphthyl ring of 2VN were sensitive to the miscibility of the blends. It was observed that blends of PVME with P(S-co-2VN) of 84 wt % styrene or P(S-co-2VN) of 51 wt % styrene are miscible over the entire concentration ranges of the blends. Blends of PVME with P(S-co-2VN) containing 21 wt % of styrene are immiscible below 65 wt % PVME. In the miscible P(S-co-2VN)/PVME blends, there was observed a large shift in the naphthyl frequency at a characteristic wavelength of 748 cm^?1. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Structural characterization of temperature-sensitive hydrogels by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM)

The submicrometer structure of the temperature-sensitive hydrogels was observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), using synthesized hydrogels of different outer size and shape. The hydrogel structure strongly depends on the homogeneity of the polymer chains during the crosslinking process. A porous structure of the poly(vinyl-methyl-ether) (PVME) bulkgel, synthesized by electron beam irradiation of a concentrated polymer solution, was observed in the swollen state because the phase transitions temperature is acquired through the crosslinking process. Photo-crosslinking reaction of the poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) copolymer in the dry state to form PNIPAAm thin films leads to a rather homogeneous structure. In the shrunk state both gels possess structure being more compact than in the swollen state. We also synthesized PVME and PNIPAAm gels with small outer dimensions in the range of some 100 nm. Heating of the thermo-sensitive polymer in diluted solutions collapses the polymer chains or aggregates. The crosslinking reaction (initiated by electron beam or UV irradiation) of these phase separated structures produces thermo-sensitive microgels. These microgel particles of PVME and PNIPAAm are spherical shape having diameters in the range of 30 - 500 nm.     

<Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR spectra of water contained in solutions of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vinylpyrrolidone) and its modification products in CDCl<Subscript>3</Subscript>

¹H NMR spectra in CDCl₃ of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone), epoxidized poly(N-vinyl-pyrrolidone), and products derived from the latter by modification with amino acids (glycine, β-alanine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and ε-aminocaproic acid) were examined. The ¹H NMR spectra of the modified polymers contain signals for water protons due to different centers of water sorption. These signals differ in chemical shift and integral intensity and indicate a changed spatial packing of the polymer as the result of its modification. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2377–2380, October, 2005.     

NMR investigations of phase transition in aqueous polymer solutions and gels

The use of NMR spectroscopy in investigations of phase transitions in aqueous polymer solutions and gels is reviewed. Results on this subject as obtained mostly for thermoresponsive polymers (e.g., poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and its copolymers, poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) and its copolymers, poly(vinyl methyl ether)) from temperature dependences of ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra, spin–lattice and spin–spin relaxation times, diffusion coefficients and NMR images are discussed.     

Temperature-sensitive poly(vinyl methyl ether) hydrogel beads

Temperature-sensitive hydrogel beads were prepared by radiation crosslinking of poly(vinyl methyl ether) PVME spheres wrapped in Ca-alginate. The obtained gel beads have diameters in the sub-millimeter or millimeter range (depending on the PVME concentration). They were characterized by sol-gel analysis, swelling measurements, and differential scanning calorimetry. The gel content g increases with increasing radiation dose D. The swelling degree Q_v decreases with increasing PVME concentration c_p and increasing D. In comparison to PVME bulkgels the phase-transition temperature of the synthesized PVME gel beads is a little decreased.     

Higher α‐olefin polymerizations catalyzed by rac‐Me2Si(1‐C5H2‐2‐CH3‐4‐tBu)2Zr(NMe2)2/Al(iBu)3/[Ph3C][B(C6F5)4]

Polymerizations of higher α‐olefins, 1‐pentene, 1‐hexene, 1‐octene, and 1‐decene were carried out at 30 °C in toluene by using highly isospecific rac‐Me₂Si(1‐C₅H₂‐2‐CH₃‐4‐^t Bu)₂Zr(NMe₂)₂ (rac‐1) compound in the presence of Al(iBu)₃/[CPh₃][B(C₆F₅)₄] as a cocatalyst formulation. Both the bulkiness of monomer and the lateral size of polymer influenced the activity of polymerization. The larger lateral of polymer chain opens the π‐ligand of active site wide and favors the insertion of monomer, while the large size of monomer inserts itself into polymer chain more difficultly due to the steric hindrance. Highly isotactic poly(α‐olefin)s of high molecular weight (MW) were produced. The MW decreased from polypropylene to poly(1‐hexene), and then increased from poly(1‐hexene) to poly(1‐decene). The isotacticity (as [mm] triad) of the polymer decreased with the increased lateral size in the order: poly(1‐pentene) > poly(1‐hexene) > poly(1‐octene) > poly(1‐decene). The similar dependence of the lateral size on the melting point of polymer was recorded by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). ¹H NMR analysis showed that vinylidene group resulting from β‐H elimination and saturated methyl groups resulting from chain transfer to cocatalyst are the main end groups of polymer chain. The vinylidene and internal double bonds are also identified by Raman spectroscopy. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1687–1697, 2000     

Comparison of glass transition and interpretation on miscibility in blends of amorphous poly(vinyl methyl ether) with highly crystallizable versus less‐crystallizable polyesters

Various phase behavior of blends of poly(vinyl ether)s with polyesters of two types (highly crystalline and less crystalline with different main‐chains) were examined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and optical microscopy (OM). Effects of varying the main‐chain polarity of the constituent polyesters on the phase behavior of the blends were analyzed. Miscibility in PVME/polyester blends was found only in polyesters with backbone CH₂/CO ratio = 3.5 to 7.0). T_g‐composition relationships for blends of PVME with highly crystalline polyesters (PBA, PHS) were found to differ significantly from those for PVME blends with less‐crystalline polyesters (PTA, PEAz). Crystallinity of highly crystalline polyester constituents in blends caused significant asymmetry in the T_g‐composition relationships, and induced positive deviation of blends' T_g above linearity; on the other hand, blends of PVME with less crystalline polyesters exhibit typical Fox or Gordon‐Taylor types of relationships. The χ parameters for the miscible blends were found to range from ?0.17 to ?0.33, reflecting generally weak interactions. Phase behavior was analyzed and compared among blends of PVME with rapidly crystallizing vs. less‐crystallizing polyesters, respectively. Effects of polyesters' crystallinity and structures on phase behavior of PVME/polyester blends are discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2899–2911, 2007     

Heat capacity of poly(vinyl methyl ether)

The heat capacity of poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) has been measured using adiabatic calorimetry and temperature‐modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC). The heat capacity of the solid and liquid states of amorphous PVME is reported from 5 to 360 K. The amorphous PVME has a glass transition at 248 K (?25 °C). Below the glass transition, the low‐temperature, experimental heat capacity of solid PVME is linked to the vibrational molecular motion. It can be approximated by a group vibration spectrum and a skeletal vibration spectrum. The skeletal vibrations were described by a general Tarasov equation with three Debye temperatures Θ₁ = 647 K, Θ₂ = Θ₃ = 70 K, and nine skeletal modes. The calculated and experimental heat capacities agree to better than ±1.8% in the temperature range from 5 to 200 K. The experimental heat capacity of the liquid rubbery state of PVME is represented by C_p(liquid) = 72.36 + 0.136 T in J K^?1 mol^?1 and compared to estimated results from contributions of the same constituent groups of other polymers using the Advanced Thermal AnalysiS (ATHAS) Data Bank. The calculated solid and liquid heat capacities serve as baselines for the quantitative thermal analysis of amorphous PVME with different thermal histories. Also, knowing C_p of the solid and liquid, the integral thermodynamic functions of enthalpy, entropy, and free enthalpy of glassy and amorphous PVME are calculated with help of estimated parameters for the crystal. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2141–2153, 2005     

Novel temperature‐ and pH‐responsive graft copolymers composed of poly(L‐glutamic acid) and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)

A series of novel temperature‐ and pH‐responsive graft copolymers, poly(L ‐glutamic acid)‐g‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide), were synthesized by coupling amino‐semitelechelic poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) with N‐hydroxysuccinimide‐activated poly(L ‐glutamic acid). The graft copolymers and their precursors were characterized, by ESI‐FTICR Mass Spectrum, intrinsic viscosity measurements and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR). The phase‐transition and aggregation behaviors of the graft copolymers in aqueous solutions were investigated by the turbidity measurements and dynamic laser scattering. The solution behavior of the copolymers showed dependence on both temperature and pH. The cloud point (CP) of the copolymer solution at pH 5.0–7.4 was slightly higher than that of the solution of the PNIPAM homopolymer because of the hydrophilic nature of the poly(glutamic acid) (PGA) backbone. The CP markedly decreased when the pH was lowered from 5 to 4.2, caused by the decrease in hydrophilicity of the PGA backbone. At a temperature above the lower critical solution temperature of the PNIPAM chain, the copolymers formed amphiphilic core‐shell aggregates at pH 4.5–7.4 and the particle size was reduced with decreasing pH. In contrast, larger hydrophobic aggregates were formed at pH 4.2. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4140–4150, 2008     

Living anionic polymerization of N‐methoxymethyl‐N‐isopropylacrylamide: Synthesis of well‐defined poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) having various stereoregularity

Anionic polymerization of N‐methoxymethyl‐N‐isopropylacrylamide ( 1 ) was carried out with 1,1‐diphenyl‐3‐methylpentyllithium and diphenylmethyllithium, ‐potassium, and ‐cesium in THF at ?78 °C for 2 h in the presence of Et₂Zn. The poly( 1 )s were quantitatively obtained and possessed the predicted molecular weights based on the feed molar ratios between monomer to initiators and narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.1). The living character of propagating carbanion of poly( 1 ) either at 0 or ?78 °C was confirmed by the quantitative efficiency of the sequential block copolymerization using N,N‐diethylacrylamide as a second monomer. The methoxymethyl group of the resulting poly( 1 ) was completely removed to give a well‐defined poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide), poly(NIPAM), via the acidic hydrolysis. The racemo diad contents in the poly(NIPAM)s could be widely changed from 15 to 83% by choosing the initiator systems for 1 . The poly(NIPAM)s obtained with Li⁺/Et₂Zn initiator system possessed syndiotactic‐rich configurations (r = 75–83%), while either atactic (r = 50%) or isotactic poly(NIPAM) (r = 15–22%) was generated with K⁺/Et₂Zn or Li⁺/LiCl initiator system, respectively. Atactic and syndiotactic poly(NIPAM)s (42 < r < 83%) were water‐soluble, whereas isotactic‐rich one (r < 31%) was insoluble in water. The cloud points of the aqueous solution of poly(NIPAM)s increased from 32 to 37 °C with the r‐contents. These indicated the significant effect of stereoregularity of the poly(NIPAM) on the water‐solubility and the cloud point in water © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4832–4845, 2006     

Polymer‐solvent interactions during phase transition in poly(vinyl methyl eiher)/D2O solutions as studied by NMR methods

The structural‐dynamic changes and polymer‐solvent interactions during temperature‐induced phase transition in poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME)/D₂O solutions in a broad range of concentrations (0.1‐30 wt.‐%) were studied by ¹H NMR methods. In the whole concentration range the phase transition is manifested by line broadening (linewidth 350‐500 Hz) of a major part of PVME units, evidently due to the formation of globular‐like structures. Above the LCST transition, the fraction of phase‐separated PVME segments is equal to 0.8±0.1, independent of polymer concentration. While at low concentrations the transition is virtually discontinuous, at high concentrations the transition region is ∼ 3 K broad. Measurements of nonselective and selective ¹H spin‐lattice relaxation times T₁ of solvent (HDO) molecules evidenced that at elevated temperatures, where most PVME forms globular structures, a part of solvent molecules is bound to PVME forming a complex; the lifetime of the bound water (HDO) molecules is ≤2 s.     

Synthesis,characterization, and drug release behaviors of a novel thermo‐sensitive poly(N‐acryloylglycinates)

In this study, a novel thermo‐sensitive poly(N‐acryloylglycinates) was prepared in order to get a potential drug release carrier. The corresponding monomers and the polymers were characterized with Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) and ¹H NMR. The thermo‐sensitivity of the poly(N‐acryloylglycinates) was evaluated by measuring their lower critical solution temperatures (LCST) in water, inorganic salt solution, and different pH solutions. The results indicated that poly(N‐acryloylglycine methyl ester) (NAGME) and poly(N‐acryloylglycine ethyl ester) (NAGEE) exhibit a reversible thermo‐sensibility in their aqueous solutions at 61.5 and 12.5°C, respectively. However, no thermo‐sensitive behavior of poly(N‐acryloylglycine propyl ester) (NAGPE) was found due to its over hydrophobicity. The swelling studies on hydrogels were carried out at different temperatures, in different pH, and inorganic salt solutions. The hydrogels showed a remarkable phase transition at about 35°C with changing temperature. The release rate of caffeine from the thermo‐sensitive hydrogel was apparently decreased as the crosslinker content increased and temperature decreased. Seventy five percent caffeine from the polymeric hydrogel with 5% NMBA (N, N‐methylenebis(acrylamide)) was released at room temperature within 240 min, whereas 95.4% caffeine diffused into the medium at 37°C. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.