Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Copolymers

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Copolymers are typical stimuli-responsive polymers with both hydrophobic isopropyl groups and hydrophilic amide groups. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) homopolymers usually undergo phase transition behavior at 32°C, that is, the lowest critical solution temperature (LCST) is 32°C. When the temperature is reduced to LCST, the amide group on the molecular chain of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) forms a hydrogen bond with the hydroxyl group in the water molecule.   At this time, because the water molecules around the polymer molecular chain will form a solvated shell connected by hydrogen bonds and have a high degree of ordering, the polymer exists in the water in a stretched coil conformation. When the temperature is higher than LCST, the interaction parameters between Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and water are abruptly changed, which changes the hydrogen bonding between the amide and water molecules, resulting in the destruction of the solvation shell at the hydrophobic end of the polymer chain. The intermolecular and intramolecular non-polar isopropyl hydrophobic interactions become the main force, and the water molecules are squeezed out of the molecular chains, causing the molecular chains to aggregate and collapse to form a spherical shape, and the overall performance is hydrophobic. Therefore, Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) is an excellent drug delivery carrier for sustained and controlled release.

CD Bioparticles offers poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) for drug discovery research. In addition, we also offer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) modified with acid, acrylamide, NHS and N/A groups. Contact us to learn how poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) can help your work.