Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers
Published on: June 20, 2019
Tailoring the LCST of PNIPAAM-b-PLA-b-PNIPAAM triblock copolymers via stereocomplexation
Xing Zhang1, Beng H Tan, Chaobin He
1Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 3 Research Link, Singapore, 117602, Singapore.
Abstract:
Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-block-poly(l-lactic acid)-block-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAM-b-PLLA-b-PNIPAAM) and PNIPAAM-b-PDLA-b-PNIPAAM triblock copolymers with varying polylactic acid (PLA) lengths are synthesized using a combination of ring-opening polymerization and atom-transfer radical polymerization. Results of (1) H NMR and gel permeation chromatography analyses show that the copolymers have a well-defined triblock structure and the PLA segment lengths can be readily controlled with monomer feed ratio. Stereocomplexation between the enantiomeric PLA segments is confirmed with differential scanning calorimetry and wide-angle X-ray scattering. Dynamic light scattering experiments show that (1) the LCST of PNIPAAM in water could be tailored from 32 °C up to 38.5 °C by increasing the length of PLA segments and mixing copolymers of similar molecular weight with enantiomeric PLA segments to induce stereocomplexation, and (2) the LCST of each mixed copolymer system could be tailored within a 2-3 °C range of body temperature by manipulating the ratio of the enantiomeric copolymers in solution.
More Related Videos
09:02Using Polystyrene-block-polyacrylic acid-coated Metal Nanoparticles as Monomers for Their Homo- and Co-polymerization
Published on: July 9, 2015
10:53Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions
Published on: October 10, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers
Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
Polymer Classification: Architecture
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism