Novel bifunctional polymer with reactivity and temperature sensitivity

To introduce reactive groups into temperature-responsive polymeric chains of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm), IPAAm is copolymerized with other monomer such as acrylic acid (AAc). IPAAm homopolymer exhibited temperature-responsive properties and phase transition at 32 degrees C, however, the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the IPAAm-AAc copolymer shifts to a higher temperature and the phase transition becomes insensitive with increasing AAc content. To achieve a useful bifunctional copolymer containing both reactivity and temperature-sensitivity, we assumed that the homopolymer-like structure in the polymer chain would be required to maintain a sensitive temperature response with functional groups. Therefore, we designed a reactive monomer, 2-carboxyisopropylacrylamide (CIPAAm), and investigated its copolymerization with IPAAm. The important characteristic of the poly(IPAAm-co-CIPAAm) structure is that it was composed of the same polymer backbone and isopropylamide groups and some additional carboxyl groups. The transmittance measurement of the polymer aqueous solution revealed that phase transition of IPAAm-co-CIPAAm random copolymer occurred within a very narrow temperature range in pH 6.4, 7.4, and also even 9.0 phosphate buffered solution. These profiles were almost same as that of IPAAm homopolymer. While, under the same conditions, phase transition properties of poly(IPAAm-co-AAc)s solution were considerably influenced by small AAc content. We succeeded with the preparation of bifunctional polymer that possessed reactive functional groups and very sensitive response to temperature change.