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Updated: Jan 4, 2026
Synthesis of Stimuli-responsive Nanogels using Aqueous One-step Crosslinking and Co-nanopolymerization
Published on: January 24, 2025
Phototropic Multiresponsive Active Nanogels
Issei Otsuka1,2, Xuewei Zhang2, Françoise M Winnik2,3,4
1Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CERMAV, CS40700, 38041, Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
Abstract:
Aqueous dispersions of nanogels that respond to switches in environmental pH and/or temperature by changes in their hydrodynamic radius (Rh ) and/or ζ-potential are prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization-induced thermal (70 °C) self-assembly (PITSA) of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) in the presence of a poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA)-substituted macromolecular chain transfer agent and a cross-linker. Photochromic spiropyran (SP) moieties are coupled to the carboxylic acid groups of the nanogels. Upon UV irradiation, the neutral SP isomerizes to the zwitterionic merocyanine (ME) form. Upon UV light irradiation, microgels formed by assembly of SP nanogels undergo a collective motion toward the UV-light source.
