Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) is a versatile technique to achieve a wide range of polymeric nanoparticle morphologies. Most previous examples of self-assembled soft nanoparticle synthesis by PISA rely on a growing solvophobic polymer block that leads to changes in nanoparticle architecture during polymerization in a selective solvent. However, synthesis of block copolymers with a ...

The feasibility of bilayer polymer hydrogels as draw agent in forward osmosis process has been investigated. The dual-functionality hydrogels consist of a water-absorptive layer (particles of a copolymer of sodium acrylate and N-isopropylacrylamide) to provide osmotic pressure, and a dewatering layer (particles of N-isopropylacrylamide) to allow the ready release of the water absorbed during th...

A novel primary amine-containing monomer, 1-(30-aminopropyl)-4-acrylamido-1,2,3-triazole hydrochloride (APAT), was prepared from N-propargylacrylamide and 3-azidopropylamine hydrochloride via copper-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (click reaction). Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-poly(1-(30-aminopropyl)-4acrylamido-1,2,3-triazole hydrochloride), PNIPAM-b-PAPAT, was then synthesized vi...

Ocular drug delivery is one of the most commonly used treatment modalities in the management of glaucoma. We have recently proposed the use of gelatin and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) graft copolymers as biodegradable in situ forming delivery systems for the intracameral administration of antiglaucoma medications. In this study, we further investigated the influence of carrier characte...

Some systems show high miscibility in water at low temperatures while they phase separate at high temperatures. Before the macroscopic phase separation there is a strong turbidity, defined as clouding [1, 2]. At certain circumstances, namely above a critical concentration, the polymer system stays turbid with a gel-like appearance, without any macroscopic phase separation [3]. Gels defined in t...

Biotin modified polycationic polymers are capable of penetrating the Au overlayer of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-acrylic acid microgel-based etalons. Once penetrated, the polycations crosslink the polyanionic microgels, causing them to collapse, resulting in a concomitant blue shift of the spectral peaks in the reflectance spectrum. We show that the magnitude of the blue shift depends on the...

As the main of thermosensitive polymeric materials, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) undergoes volume changes in response to external temperature changes. While in some potential applications, a fast response rate is needed. In this article, effect of the initiator on thermosensitivity of PNIPAM hydrogels was carried out. The characterization of the resulting hydrogels was gravimetrically m...

Temperature- and pH-responsive dispersions of carbon nanotubes in water have been obtained by using di- and tri-block copolypeptides, in which the temperature responsive behaviour is provided by a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) block, while the pH responsiveness is provided by two different polypeptides with an ampholytic behaviour, poly(L-glutamic acid) and poly(L-lysine). The molecular architect...