A new temperature-sensitive polymer: Poly(ethoxypropylacrylamide)

In this study, a new temperature sensitive polymer was obtained by the solution polymerization of ethoxypropylacrylamide. The monomer, N-(3-ethoxypropyl)-acrylamide was synthesized by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of 3-ethoxy-propylamine and acryloyl chloride. The solution polymerization was performed in ethanol at 70 °C, by using azobisizobutyronitrile as the initiator. Poly(N-(3-ethoxypropyl)acrylamide), PEPA, exhibited a reversible phase transition by the temperature. The effects of polymer and salt concentrations on the lower critical solution temperature, (LCST) behaviour were investigated. LCST was found to be strongly dependent on the polymer concentration. The dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements confirmed the formation of aggregates by the association of nucleated polymer chains at the temperatures higher than LCST. However an unusual behaviour, a marked decrease in the hydrodynamic diameter by the increasing PEPA concentration was observed below the LCST. The effect of salt concentration on the critical flocculation temperature of PEPA was reasonably similar to poly(isopropylacrylamide), PNIPA. In the ethanol-water media, the reversible phase transition behaviour was observed up the ethanol concentration of 30% v/v. This study indicated that PEPA was a new alternative thermally reversible material for PNIPA. With respect to the well-defined temperature-sensitive polymers like PNIPA, polymer concentration dependent LCST of PEPA can provide significant advantages in the applications like drug targeting, affinity separation and immobilization of bioactive agents.     

Phase transition of aqueous solutions of poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) by differential scanning calorimetric and spectrophotometric methods

 The phase transition of aqueous solutions of poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (DEAAm–AA) is studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and UV–vis spectrophotometry. The copolymer aqueous solutions are shown to have well-defined lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs). The LCST values obtained from the maximum of the first derivatives of the DSC and optical transition curves agree well. DSC can be used to measure the phase-transition temperature of more dilute polymer solutions. On increasing the AA composition in the copolymers, the LCST values of the copolymer increase, then decrease at higher AA composition. For the aqueous solution of the copolymers, the transition curve obtained by the spectrophotometric method is highly wavelength dependent. The LCST values are found to be concentration-dependent. The changes in the heat of the phase transition of the copolymer solutions measured from DSC are lower than that of the homopolymer PDEAAm solution. This is consistent with the suggestion that the polymer chains of the copolymers collapsed only partially at temperatures above the LCST. The added salt (sodium chloride) decreases the transition temperature of the polymer solution. Received: 14 November 2000 Accepted: 15 January 2001     

Synthesis and functional properties of thermosensitive polymer derivatives of proteins

N,N-Diethylacrylamide-N-acryloylphthalimide copolymers have been synthesized. The LCST of the synthesized copolymers decreases with increase in both the molecular mass of the copolymers and the content of more hydrophobic N-acryloylphthalimide units. Through the reaction of the copolymers with the proteinase enzyme inhibitor, ovomucoid, the polymer derivatives of protein have been prepared. It has been shown that the biological activity of ovomucoid and the LCST of polymer derivatives increase with the amount of the immobilized ovomucoid. The effect of biologically active media on the LCST values of polymer derivatives has been studied.     

Control of heme peptide activity by using phase transition polymers modified with inhibitors

Catalytic activity of a heme peptide (HP) modified-electrode for H(2)O(2) reduction was controlled by use of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) modified with an inhibitory moiety, imidazole group. The polymers inhibited the catalytic activity below their lower critical solution temperature (LCST) where the polymers were dissolved and did not inhibit the activity above the LCST where the polymers were precipitated. A polymer with a longer side chain connecting with the imidazole group was more inhibitory than a polymer with a shorter side chain at temperatures below the LCST. Formation constants of dissolved HP-imidazole complexes were evaluated by spectroscopic means, and it was found that the polymers were more inhibitory than the corresponding monomers.     

Radiation synthesis of a water-soluble temperature sensitive polymer, activated copolymer and applications in immobilization of proteins

In this work the radiation polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAM) in aqueous solutions has been carried out and a water-soluble, temperature sensitive polymer and copolymer were obtained by using γ-rays from Co-60 source at room temperature. We have gained the optimum dose and dose—rate of radiation synthesis of linear polyNIPAAM through determining conversion yield and viscosity. In order to immobilize protein (BSA) and enzyme (HRP) into this water-soluble polymer, we prepared an activated copolymer, poly ( N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-acryloxysuccinimide). The BSA and HRP has been immobilized onto the activated copolymer. The BSA (HRP) / copolymer conjugates still kept the original thermally sensitive properties of the linear polyNIPAAM. The conjugation yield of BSA to the activated copolymer decreased with increasing of dose. The thermal stability of the immobilized HRP was stable at 0 °C for a long time and has, at least, 4 days stability at room temperature. Immobilized HRP activity was lowered when the temperature was raised above its LCST. This phenomenon was reversible and the immobilized HRP regained activity below its LCST. The optimum pH of the immobilized HRP shifted from ca.5 upward to ca.7.     

Electrodes modified with the phase transition polymer and heme peptide: biocatalysis and biosensing with tunable activity and dynamic range

An electrode was modified with a phase transition polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), and the polymer was further modified with a peroxidase model compound, heme peptide (HP). As the polymer layer shrank at temperatures above 30-40 degrees C, the catalytic activity of the HP molecules for H(2)O(2) reduction improved, and simultaneously, the number of HP molecules that can communicate electrochemically with the electrode increased. As a result, the catalytic current for H(2)O(2) reduction in the shrunken state was 4 times larger than that in the swollen state. This reversible change was exploited for tuning the sensitivity and dynamic range of the HP electrode in H(2)O(2) biosensing. The dynamic range in inhibition-based biosensing of imidazole derivatives was also tunable.     

Effects of Hofmeister Anions on the LCST of PNIPAM as a Function of Molecular Weight

The effect of a series of sodium salts on the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), PNIPAM, was investigated as a function of molecular weight and polymer concentration with a temperature gradient microfluidic device under a dark-field microscope. In solutions containing sufficient concentrations of kosmotropic anions, the phase transition of PNIPAM was resolved into two separate steps for higher molecular weight samples. The first step of this two step transition was found to be sensitive to the polymer's molecular weight and solution concentration, while the second step was not. Moreover, the binding of chaotropic anions to the polymer was also influenced by molecular weight. Both sets of results could be explained by the formation of intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen-bonding between polymer chains. By contrast, the hydrophobic hydration of the isopropyl moieties and polymer backbone was found to be unaffected by either the polymer's molecular weight or solution concentration.     

Phase transition behavior of novel pH-sensitive polyaspartamide derivatives grafted with 1-(3-aminopropyl)imidazole

New pH-sensitive polyaspartamide derivatives were synthesized by grafting 1-(3-aminopropyl)imidazole and/or O-(2-aminoethyl)-O'-methylpoly(ethylene glycol) 5000 on polysuccinimide for application in intracellular drug delivery systems. The DS of 1-(3-aminopropyl)imidazole was adjusted by the feed molar ratio, and the structure of the prepared polymer was confirmed using FT-IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Their pH-sensitive properties were characterized by light transmittance measurements, and the particle size and its distribution were investigated by dynamic light scattering measurements at varying pH values. The pH-sensitive phase transition was clearly observed in polymer solutions with a high substitution of 1-(3-aminopropyl)imidazole. The prepared polymers showed a high buffering capacity between pH 5 and 7, and this increased with the DS of 1-(3-aminopropyl)imidazole. The pH dependence of the aggregation and de-aggregation behavior was examined using a fluorescence spectrometer. For MPEG/imidazole-g-polyaspartamides with a DS of 1-(3-aminopropyl)imidazole over 82%, self aggregates associated with the hydrophobic interactions of the unprotonated imidazole groups were observed at pH values above 7, and their mean size was over 200 nm, while the aggregates of polymers were dissociated at pH values below 7 by the protonation of imidazole groups. These pH-sensitive polyaspartamide derivatives are potential basic candidates for intracellular drug delivery carriers triggered by small pH changes.     

A Novel DNA Probe Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Modified Electrode for the Electrochemical Monitoring of DNA

A DNA probe that was based on methylene blue (MB) imprinted polyvinyl pyridine polymer (MIP) modified carbon paste electrodes were developed for the first time for electrochemical monitoring of DNA. Probes were built up by adsorbing MB onto modified electrodes prior to DNA immobilization. It was shown that DNA strongly immobilizes on MIP modified electrodes when MB was adsorbed in advance of DNA immobilization. The performance of the MB imprinted polymer modified carbon paste electrodes (MIP‐CPE) to rebind the template molecule (MB) were compared to those of control polymer modified (non‐imprinted polymer NIP‐CPE) and bare (CPE) electrodes. Electrochemical signal resulting from the oxidation of guanine moiety of the immobilized probe DNA was high enough on the constructed platform, implicating that probes of this kind could be favorably used for DNA analysis. These probes exhibited high selectivity for its complementary DNA sequences (target). HBV‐DNA hybridization was studied to evaluate the selectivity of the probes for complementary, non‐complementary and mismatch sequences. The detection limit of the probe for the target DNA was 8.72 µg/mL (1.38 µM), which was better than those attained by some earlier DNA sensor studies.     

Effect of urea on the conformational behavior of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

The effect of urea on the conformational behavior of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) in dilute aqueous solution has been investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence quenching and fluorescence anisotropy measurements via pyrene (Py) probe and acenaphthylene (ACE) label studies. It was demonstrated that urea promotes the partitioning of the hydrophobic probe, Py, towards the bulk aqueous phase at temperatures above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the polymer due to swelling of the compact coil conformation. However, the compact coil structure of the polymer at temperatures greater than its LCST is not completely destroyed, even for urea concentrations up to 3 M, at which the phase transition is hardly observed. As expected, urea has little effect on the conformational behavior of PNIPAM at temperatures below its LCST. Received: 9 February 2000/Accepted: 13 June 2000     

聚(甲基丙烯酸N,N-二甲氨基乙酯)的温度和pH敏感性及其对乳液稳定性的影响

甲基丙烯酸N,N-二甲氨基乙酯的均聚物(PDMAEMA)在水中的溶解性具有温敏性,即低温溶解、高温不溶,而且其低临界溶液温度(LCST)与pH密切相关.本文重点考察了PDMAEMA水溶液在不同温度、pH值、溶液离子强度时的相转变特性,并研究了水溶液中乳化剂对PDMAEMA的疏水相互作用和增溶稳定作用.将PDMAEMA的温敏相转变行为同有关乳液的稳定性相关联,揭示了改善乳液稳定性的内在机制.     

Temperature-responsive phase transition of polymer vesicles: real-time morphology observation and molecular mechanism

Novel thermosensitive polymer vesicles with controlled temperature-responsive phase transition at the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) varying from 8 to 81 degrees C were prepared via self-assembly of amphiphilic hyperbranched star copolymers having a hydrophobic hyperbranched poly[3-ethyl-3-(hydroxymethyl)oxetane] (HBPO) core and many hydrophilic polyethylene oxide (PEO) arms. Real-time optical microscopic observation revealed that the polymer vesicles have undergone sequential morphology changes including enrichment, aggregation, fusion, and vesicle-to-membrane transformation near the LCST. Molecular-level investigation indicates that the LCST transition results from the decreasing water solubility of the polymer vesicles with increasing temperature based on the partial dehydration of the PEO vesicle corona. On the basis of these results, a LCST transition mechanism, in view of the molecular configuration, balance of hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties, and the vesicle morphology transformations, was proposed. As far as we know, the work presented here is the first demonstration of thermosensitive vesicles based on PEO, and the finding may be useful to design the thermosensitive core-shell structures by introducing the PEO segments.     

Capture and release of proteins on the nanoscale by stimuli-responsive elastin-like polypeptide "switches"

This article describes the fabrication and characterization of stimulus-responsive elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) nanostructures grafted onto omega-substituted thiolates that were patterned onto gold surfaces by dip-pen nanolithography (DPN). In response to external stimuli such as changes in temperature or ionic strength, ELPs undergo a switchable and reversible, hydrophilic-hydrophobic phase transition at a lower critical solution temperature (LCST). We exploited this phase transition behavior to reversibly immobilize a thioredoxin-ELP (Trx-ELP) fusion protein onto the ELP nanopattern above the LCST. Subsequent binding of an anti-thioredoxin monoclonal antibody (anti-Trx) to the surface-captured thioredoxin showed the presentation of the immobilized protein in a sterically accessible orientation in the nanoarray. We also showed that the resulting Trx-ELP/anti-Trx complex formed above the LCST could be reversibly dissociated below the LCST. These results demonstrate the intriguing potential of ELP nanostructures as generic, reversible, biomolecular switches for on-chip capture and release of a small number (order 100-200) of protein molecules in integrated, nanoscale bioanalytical devices. We also investigated the molecular mechanism underlying this switch by measuring the height changes that accompany the binding and desorption steps and by adhesion force spectroscopy using atomic force microscopy.     

Effect of temperature cycling on the activity and productivity of immobilized β-galactosidase in a thermally reversible hydrogel bead reactor

The enzyme beta-galactosidase has been immobilized within thermally reversible hydrogel beads that exhibit LCST (lower critical solution temperature) behavior. The hydrogel beads containing the immobilized enzymes swell and expand below the LCST and deswell and shrink above the LCST. This behavior is reversible. The enzyme was physically entrapped in a crosslinked hydrogel of a copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and acrylamide (AAm), and formed as beads in an inverse suspension polymerization. The beads were placed in a packed bed column reactor which was operated in a continuous, single pass mode, either isothermally at 30 or 35 degrees C, or with temperature cycling between 30 and 35 degrees C. The thermal cycling significantly enhanced overall reactor enzyme activity relative to isothermal operation at either the higher or lower temperature. It is postulated that mass transfer rates within the hydrogel beads are greatly enhanced by the movement of water in and out of the beads during the expansion or collapse of the polymer chain network as temperature is cycled.     

Controlling the charge of pH-responsive redox hydrogels by means of redox-silent biocatalytic processes. A biocatalytic off/on switch

Coupling of redox-silent biocatalytic processes for analyte detection with enzyme-catalyzed redox reactions for signal generation is proposed by the modulation of electrostatic interactions between a pH-responsive polymer and a redox enzyme to control the off–on transition for electrochemical signal generation. Glassy carbon electrodes are modified with a poly(vinyl)imidazole Os(bipyridine)₂Cl redox hydrogel film entrapping urease and PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenase, while glucose is present in the solution. The off–on transition is based on the detection of urea as model analyte which is hydrolyzed to ammonia by urease within the hydrogel film concomitantly increasing the local pH value thus invoking deprotonation of the imidazole groups at the polymer backbone. The decrease of positive charges at the polymer decreases electrostatic repulsion between the polymer and the positively charged PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenase. Hence, electron transfer rates between polymer-bound Os complexes and PQQ inside the enzyme are enhanced activating electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose. This process generates the electrochemical signal for urea detection.     

A simple FTIR spectroscopic method for the determination of the lower critical solution temperature of N‐isopropylacrylamide copolymers and related hydrogels

Linear and crosslinked polymers based on N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) exhibit unusual thermal properties. Aqueous solutions of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) phase‐separate upon heating above a lower critical solution temperature (LCST), whereas related hydrogels undergo a swelling–shrinking transition at an LCST. A linear copolymer made of NIPAAm/acryloxysuccinimide (98/2 mol/mol) and two hydrogels with different hydrophilicities were prepared. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was employed to determine the transition temperature and provide insights into the molecular details of the transition via probing of characteristic bands as a function of temperature. The FTIR spectroscopy method described here allowed the determination of the transition temperature for both the linear and crosslinked polymers. The transition temperatures for PNIPAAm and the gel resulting from the crosslinking with polylysine or N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) were in the same range, 30–35 °C. For the gels, the transition temperature increased with the hydrophilicity of the polymer matrix. The spectral changes observed at the LCST were similar for the free chains and the hydrogels, implying a similar molecular reorganization during the transition. The C H stretching region suggests that the N‐isopropyl groups and the backbone both underwent conformational changes and became more ordered upon heating above the LCST. An analysis of the amide I band suggests that the amide groups of the linear polymer were mainly involved in hydrogen bonding with water molecules below the LCST, the chain being flexible and disordered in a water solution. During the transition, around 20% of these intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the polymer and water were broken and replaced by intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Similar changes were also observed at the LCST of a gel crosslinked with MBA. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 907–915, 2000     

A new thermo‐responsive block copolymer with tunable upper critical solution temperature and lower critical solution temperature in the alcohol/water mixture

The multi‐thermo‐responsive block copolymer of poly[2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate]‐block‐poly[N‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐N,N‐diethylamine] (PMEO₂MA‐b‐PVEA) displaying phase transition at both the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and the upper critical solution temperature (UCST) in the alcohol/water mixture is synthesized by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The poly[2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate] (PMEO₂MA) block exhibits the UCST phase transition in alcohol and the LCST phase transition in water, while the poly[N‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐N,N‐diethylamine] (PVEA) block shows the UCST phase transition in isopropanol and the LCST phase transition in the alcohol/water mixture. Both the polymer molecular weight and the co‐solvent/nonsolvent exert great influence on the LCST or UCST of the block copolymer. By adjusting the solvent character including the water content and the temperature, the block copolymer undergoes multiphase transition at LCST or UCST, and various block copolymer morphologies including inverted micelles, core‐corona micelles, and corona‐collapsed micelles are prepared. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 4399–4412     

Do additives shift the LCST of poly (<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide) by solvent quality changes or by direct interactions?

The phase transition of thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) is studied under the influence of additives considered as model substances for drugs. A series of aromatic compounds with similar structures, mainly benzaldehydes, is chosen. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) is determined by differential scanning calorimetry and ¹H-NMR. All additives cause a down shift of the LCST, which depends on additive molecular structure and concentration. Since the LCST shifts are not correlated to hydrophobicity or solubility of the additive, the detailed substitution pattern is discussed as the controlling factor. The question whether LCST shifts can be explained by either the additives affecting the solvent quality or by specific interactions of additives with the polymer is addressed by LCST determination in dependence on polymer concentration. Though both factors are relevant, specific additive-polymer interactions are shown to play a major role in controlling the LCST.     

Siloxane/silarylene copolymers as stationary phases for capillary gas chromatography part I: Evaluation of silanol terminated dimethyl substituted polymers

The thermal stability of silicones can be improved on replacement of certain of the oxygen atoms in the polymer backbone by phenyl groups. Such a polymer has been synthesized and evaluated for use as stationary phase in fused silica capillary gas chromatography; the polymer was dimethyl substituted and silanol terminated. A selectivity was provided by the phenyl groups in the backbone. For comparative purposes, a silanol-terminated dimethylpolysiloxane has also been evaluated. Both stationary phases gave columns of highest separation efficiency and the supporting fused silica surface was deactivated by the stationary phases on thermal treatment. Further, low column bleeding was observed at the maximum temperature tested, 370°C. The phenyl-containing phase could be immobilized to 60% by heat treatment, but the pure dimethylpolysiloxane was 10% immobilized. The influence on immobilization of factors such as nature of the supporting surface, stationary phase silanol content, reaction temperature and atmosphere in the column during reaction has been studied.     

Thermodynamic properties of aqueous organic mixtures near the critical demixing: Cases of 2,6-dimethylpyridine and of 2-isobutoxyethanol

Phase diagrams, volumes and heat capacities of aqueous mixtures of 2,6-dimethylpyridine (2,6-L) and 2-isobutoxyethanol (iBE) and activities of 2,6-L in aqueous mixtures were measured in the monophasic region near the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). With 2,6-L some measurement were also made just above the LCST. From the temperature dependence of these data, partial molar relative enthalpies (2,6-L), expansibilities and the temperature derivative of heat capacities were calculated and show that iBE undergoes a microphase transition at low concentration which is not related to the phase separation. On the other hand, the properties of 2,6-L in the water-rich region at temperatures well below the LCST indicates that this solute has only a slight tendency to associate. The heat capacities of 2,6-L show an important increase near the LCST. Such changes are not observed for iBE and other alkoxyethanols and amines since these systems already exist in the form of microphases; the partial molar properties of iBE near the LCST are nearly equal to the molar values of the pure liquid, and the changes in thermodynamic properties corresponding to the macroscopic phase transition, are therefore too small to be measured by the present techniques.