The Influence of Synthesis Method on Characteristics of Buffer and Organic Solutions of Thermo- and pH-Responsive Poly(N-[3-(diethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide)s

Abstract

Thermo- and pH-responsive poly(N-[3-(diethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide)s were synthesized by free radical polymerization and RAFT polymerization. The molar masses of the samples were 33,000–35,000 g∙mol−1. Investigations of the dilute solutions showed that the prepared samples were flexible chain polymers. The behavior of the synthesized polymers in the buffer solutions was analyzed by turbidity and light scattering at a pH range of 7–13 and a concentration range of 0.0002–0.008 g·cm−3. When the concentrated solutions were at a low temperature, there were macromolecules and aggregates, which were formed due to the interaction of hydrophobic units. For the investigated samples, the lower critical solution temperatures were equal. The phase separation temperatures decreased as pH increased. The influence of polydispersity index on the characteristics of the samples in the solutions was analyzed. The radii of molecules of poly(N-[3-(diethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide) obtained by RAFT polymerization at this temperature at the onset and end of the phase separation interval were lower than ones for samples synthesized by conventional free radical polymerization.

Synthesis, Characterization, Conformation in Solution, and Thermoresponsiveness of Polymer Brushes of methoxy[oligo (propylene glycol)-block-oligo(ethylene glycol)]methacrylate and N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide Obtained via RAFT Polymerization

“…The aggregates decreased with dilution. Similar behavior has been reported for other thermo- and pH-sensitive polymers [ 23 ].…”

“…For the synthesis of MOEGM copolymers with a given architecture such as block copolymers, brushes, star polymers, and dendrimers, as well as low-molar-mass distribution, the method of reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) radical polymerization is used [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. The copolymer poly(MEO 2 MA-co-PEGMA2080 ( M n = 17,300 g·mol –1 ) containing 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethylmethacrylate (MEO 2 MA, M = 188 g·mol –1 ) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA, M = 2080 g·mol –1 ) was synthesized using the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) process, and its thermoresponsive behavior in water solution were studied.…”