Chemical Properties
mp 96°C phase transitions at 32°C to insoluble phase
Uses
PolyNIPAM is a stimuli-responsive polymer. The low PDI means that the distribution of chain lengths is narrow which will typically lead to better reproducibility. This polymer for development of thermosensitive coated micro/nano materials including thermoresponsive polymeric drug delivery systems. The carboxylic acid functional group can be used to conjugate a variety of biomolecules to the polymer chain.
Uses
Poly(N-iso-propyl acrylaMide) can be used to form a hydrogel. Aqueous polymer solution undergoes a phase transition from a soluble to an insoluble state when the temperature is raised to ca. 32 °C.
Definition
ChEBI: An acrylic macromolecule, arising from poymerisation of N-isopropylamide.
General Description
Poly(
N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) is a temperature-responsive polymer used in biomedical research applications. PNIPAM undergoes a reversible, lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase transition when heated above 32 °C, transitioning from a soluble to an insoluble material. PNIPAM is also frequently crosslinked to yield hydrogels with reversible, thermal shrinking and swelling. Poly(
N-isopropylacrylamide) is also readily functionalized and has been used as the hydrophilic block in the synthesis of thermoresponsive, amphiphilic block copolymers. Due to the similarity in temperature between the LCST of PNIPAM and the temperature of the human body, PNIPAM materials have been frequently utilized in tissue engineering and controlled drug delivery research applications.
