Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Microfluidic Synthesis of Microgel Building Blocks for Microporous Annealed Particle Scaffold
Published on: June 16, 2022
Synthesis of smart dual-responsive microgels: correlation between applied surfactants and obtained particle
Lars Wiehemeier1, Timo Brändel1, Yvonne Hannappel1
1Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 25, Bielefeld, Germany. thomas.hellweg@uni-bielefeld.de.
Abstract:
Thermo- and pH-responsive copolymer microgels were obtained by surfactant-assisted precipitation polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and acrylic acid (AAc). The surfactants used were sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and the nonionic n-octyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (C8G1). We investigate the influence of the surfactants on the acrylic acid incorporation rate, the particle size, particle morphology, and the swelling behaviour at pH 4 and pH 7, at which AAc is neutral or charged, respectively. It is shown that each surfactant has a specific influence, which is connected to its role in the polymerization mechanism and its charge. A combined FTIR and PCS study reveals that the particles undergo a temperature-induced change in microstructure, even if the particle hydrodynamic radius does not change significantly.
Related Concept Videos
Correlations
Correlation and Causation
Correlation versus Causation
If the dependent variable increases or decreases when the independent variable increases, there is a positive or negative...
Correlation
Two variables, for example, a and b, are said to be positively correlated if both variables move in the same direction. In other words, a positive correlation exists between two variables, a and b, if:
Subatomic Particles
Dehydration Synthesis
Dehydration synthesis (also called a condensation reaction) is the chemical process in which two molecules covalently link together to form a new molecule, along with the release of a water molecule. Many physiologically important compounds form by dehydration synthesis reactions, such as complex carbohydrates, proteins, DNA, and RNA.
Synthesis of carbohydrates
Sugar molecules are covalently linked together by dehydration synthesis. During the reaction, the hydroxyl (-OH) group from...
The Nucleosome Core Particle
The paradox
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their main responsibility is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. While on the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access DNA...

