Comparison of Thermosensitive Properties of Poly(amidoamine) Dendrimers with Peripheral N-Isopropylamide Groups and Linear Polymers with the Same Groups

摘要

Thermosensitive polymers, which exhibit changes in water solubility at a specific temperature, are highly attractive for the production of functional or intelligent materials.[1] Although a number of polymers are known to exhibit thermosensitive properties, the most thoroughly studied is poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm).[2,3] This polymer is highly soluble in water at low temperature. It becomes water-insoluble at temperatures greater than 31–32 8C: the polymer chains become dehydrated and form aggregates.[3] This temperature is designated as the lower critical solution temperature (LCST).