28 / 32
Polymer Congress 2018
Polymer Sciences
ISSN: 2471-9935
Page 82
June 04-05, 2018
London, UK
4
th
Edition of International Conference on
Polymer Science and
Technology
Polym Sci 2018, Volume 4
DOI: 10.4172/2471-9935-C2-012
W
e investigate the aggregation and hydrophobic
collapse of water soluble amphiphilic polymer, poly(N-
isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), in aqueous solution
containing various additives such as trehalose, sucrose,
sorbitol, urea, TMAO (Trimethylamine N-oxide) and their
mixtures in varying ratios. The effect of these osmolytes on
the coil to globular transition of the PNIPAM is studied by the
use of comprehensive biophysical techniques like UV-visible
and fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering
(DLS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The
polarization induced by these additives makes the collapse
of PNIPAM much faster as compared to PNIPAM in aqueous
solution. The decrease in lower critical solution temperature
(LCST) of the polymer with increase in the concentration of
osmolyte is due to the significant changes in the interactions
among polymer, osmolyte and water. The driving force for
concomitant sharp configurational transition has been
attributed to rupture of hydrogen bonds between water and
polymer and to hydrophobic association of polymer. The
results of the present study can be used in the bioresponsive
smart PNIPAM-based devices. This tuning of LCST may help in
various scientific areas to explore target specific applications
of intelligent PNIPAM. The modified collapsed state in PNIPAM
may provide sites for efficient drug encapsulation and their
controlled release.
narangpayal1992@gmail.comAn unexplored remarkable poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-
osmolyte interaction study
Payal Narang
and
Pannuru Venkatesu
University of Delhi, India