Issue 4, 2012

Temperature-sensitive nanogels: poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) versus poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

Abstract

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) are temperature-responsive polymers which show a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) around 32 °C in aqueous solutions. Nanogels based on these temperature sensitive polymers swell at low temperatures and collapse at high ones, showing a volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) near physiological temperature. This unique behavior makes these nanogels attractive for biotechnological applications. PNIPAM is the building block of a huge amount of nanogels reported in the literature. However, PVCL is especially interesting due to the fact that it is very stable against hydrolysis and biocompatible. In this mini-review, various synthesis procedures together with the functionalization of different PNIPAM- and PVCL-based nanogels are revised and compared.

Graphical abstract: Temperature-sensitive nanogels: poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) versus poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

Article information

Article type
Minireview
Submitted
13 Oct 2011
Accepted
24 Nov 2011
First published
16 Dec 2011

Polym. Chem., 2012,3, 852-856

Temperature-sensitive nanogels: poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) versus poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

J. Ramos, A. Imaz and J. Forcada, Polym. Chem., 2012, 3, 852 DOI: 10.1039/C2PY00485B

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements