BACKGROUND: In situ gelling polymers, like poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (poly(NIPAAm)), have many potential medical applications due to their biocompatibility and thermosensitivity.
RESULTS: Radio‐opaque thermosensitive poly(NIPAAm) grafted with 10.7 wt% 2,2′‐(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine)‐2,3,5‐triiodobenzamide was successfully synthesized and characterized. The conjugated polymer showed good visibility with X‐ray fluoroscopy. The polymer had a lower critical solution temperature of 30 °C after conjugation with triiodobenzamide as determined by cloud point determination and a transition peak temperature of 33.3 ± 0.57 °C as determined by differential scanning calorimetry.
CONCLUSION: The polymer synthesized was highly visible under X‐rays, based upon the percentage incorporation of triiodobenzamide. After conjugation of the NIPAAm to the triiodobenzamide through a bis(ethylamine) linkage, the resultant polymer retained lower critical solution temperature characteristics in a temperature region that makes it physiologically useful. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry