Rational macromolecular design allows
us to construct multiresponsive
architectural polymers with a potential toward multipurpose applications.
This study aims at synthesis and LCST-type thermoresponsive behaviors
of multisensitive linear and cyclic graft copolymers with polyacrylamide
backbone and hydrophilic PEG grafts. The cloud point could be tuned
by many factors, and the effect of cyclization was confirmed by the
elevated cloud point in H2O up to 12.8 °C under same
conditions. The PEG-connecting Y junctions with dual amide, thioether,
and tertiary amine groups allowed thermo-, solvent-, pH-, and CO2-switchable inter/intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions
and hence resulted in unusual solvent (H2O or D2O) and pH (about 6.8–8.5) dependent phase transition and irreversible
CO2-responsive behavior. Meanwhile, the solution blending
could lead to one or two phase transition(s) dependent on types and
compositions of the blends. The meticulous introduction of multifunctional
Y junctions into graft copolymers offers a versatile route to adjust
multitunable thermoresponsive properties.
Multi-responsive N-substituted poly(amido thioether) copolymers synthesized by one-pot amine–thiol–acrylate polyaddition could exhibit composition-dependent and stimuli-triggered single or double thermoresponsivity.
Copolymer aggregates formed from an amphiphilic ABCD star could exhibit acid-induced topological and morphological transformations and stimuli-triggered drug delivery properties.
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