Tunable Thermo‐Responsive Poly(N‐vinylcaprolactam) Cellulose Nanofibers: Synthesis, Characterization, and Fabrication

Abstract

Temperature‐responsive PVCL homopolymers and functional PVCL polymers containing carboxylic acids are prepared in organic and aqueous solutions. PVCL bulk polymers are characterized using 1H NMR, photometry, ATR‐FTIR, and thermal analysis. A finite phase transition at 37–40 °C occurs in aqueous solutions of PVCL and PVCL‐COOH. PVCL and PVCL‐COOH polymers are electrospun into fibers ranging from 100 to 2300 nm in diameter. PVCL/cellulose bi‐component films are obtained by electrospinning of CA and PVCL followed by alkaline hydrolysis. These tunable thermo‐responsive PVCL/cellulose nanofibers have potential applications in developing affinity membranes.

Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam), a comprehensive review on a thermoresponsive polymer becoming popular

“…Besides the presented applications of PNVCL, there are some reports for its use in cosmetics [292,293], fiber formation [294,295], and as a hydrate inhibitor in pipelines [24,296,297]. The reader is advised to consult those publications directly for details.…”

Synthetic stimuli-responsive ‘smart’ fibers

“…PNIPAAm has a sharp, reversible change in its phase at 32 8C due to the dehydration of the polymer which drives the hydrophobic (intra-molecular/intermolecular) interactions of the polymer backbone [25]. However, it is known to degrade to cytotoxic low molecular weight amines [26]. Thermo-responsive electrospun poly(n-vinylcaprolactam) cellulose nanofibers have recently been developed that overcome some of PNIPAAm's cytotoxicity limitations [26].…”

“…However, it is known to degrade to cytotoxic low molecular weight amines [26]. Thermo-responsive electrospun poly(n-vinylcaprolactam) cellulose nanofibers have recently been developed that overcome some of PNIPAAm's cytotoxicity limitations [26]. …”

Polysaccharide-based nanocomposites and their applications

“…The synthetic biodegradable poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) has been electrospun with the anticoagulant polysaccharide heparin (tributyl ammonium salt) to obtain NFs with heparin as a dispersed phase in the NF matrix [20]. Co-electrospun cellulose acetate and biodegradable poly( N -vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) afford tunable thermal responsive composites [21]. …”