Nanostructure and thermoresponsiveness of poly(N-isopropyl methacrylamide)-based hydrogel microspheres prepared via aqueous free radical precipitation polymerization

Abstract

Nanostructure and thermoresponsiveness of single and packed poly(N-isopropyl methacrylamide)-based microgels observed by temperature-controllable high speed atomic force microscopy.

Relationship between π–A isotherms and single microgel/microgel array structures revealed via the direct visualization of microgels at the air/water interface

“…The microgel compression process at the interface involves complex changes in the structures at the single microgel/ microgel array scale which need to be understood. Even though it is also important to understand the three-dimensional structure of individual microgels deformed at interfaces by combining advanced observation technologies, e.g., neutron reflectivity measurements, 34 SALS, 35 and high-speed AFM, 15,[60][61][62] we strongly advocate the utility of our evaluation method, which allows the direct visualization of interfaces as well as monitoring of interfacial properties in real-time.…”

Single microgel degradation governed by heterogeneous nanostructures

“…In this case, the volume decreased significantly from 25 1C (0.99 Â 10 À4 mm 3 ) to 32 1C (0.63 Â 10 À4 mm 3 ), before it gradually decreased further (0.50 Â 10 À4 mm 3 at 48 1C). The difference between the thermoresponsiveness in the dispersed states and adsorbed states might be caused by the deformation of microgels on the substrate 46 and hydrophobic interaction between the polymer and hydrophobic surface. 47 Subsequently, the degradation behavior of the ND microgels in the dispersed state at different temperatures was evaluated via DLS measurements.…”

Durable gelfoams stabilized by compressible nanocomposite microgels

“…14 In addition, we have clarified that the temperature-responsiveness of microgels that are highly packed on solid/liquid interfaces is limited by the interpenetration of dangling chains and compression from neighboring microgels. 15 Therefore, it is possible that the thermoresponsiveness of NMF-S100 microgels is suppressed due to the effects of strong adsorption of their polymer segments onto the interfaces, compression, and the interpenetration of dangling chains.…”