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Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

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Fabricating Degradable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels on Multiple Length Scales via Reactive Extrusion, Microfluidics, Self-assembly, and Electrospinning

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Multifunctional temperature-responsive polymers as advanced biomaterials and beyond.

E Molly Frazar^1,2, Rishabh A Shah^1,2, Thomas D Dziubla^1,2

¹Superfund Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536.

Journal of Applied Polymer Science

|July 26, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Multifunctional poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) systems offer versatile applications in biomedicine and environmental treatment. These thermoresponsive polymers, enhanced with comonomers or nanomaterials, show promise for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and sustainable materials.

Keywords:

bioengineering biomaterials composites drug delivery systems stimuli-sensitive polymers

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Area of Science:

Polymer Science
Materials Science
Biomedical Engineering

Background:

Thermoresponsive polymers, particularly poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm), are of significant interest due to their versatile applications.
Multifunctional PNIPAAm systems are created through copolymerization with functional comonomers or combination with nanomaterials.

Purpose of the Study:

To review multifunctional PNIPAAm-based systems and their diverse applications.
To highlight the impact of cofunctionalities and nanomaterial incorporation on system properties and utility.

Main Methods:

Review of literature on multifunctional PNIPAAm systems.
Analysis of how comonomer addition (hydrophilic/hydrophobic, natural) modifies polymer properties (e.g., lower critical solution temperature).
Examination of PNIPAAm-based nanocomposites incorporating inorganic or carbon nanomaterials.

Main Results:

Addition of comonomers allows for tuning of the polymer's lower critical solution temperature, crucial for physiological applications.
Natural comonomers enhance biocompatibility and biodegradability, supporting greener material development for biopharmaceutical and environmental uses.
Incorporation of nanomaterials into PNIPAAm systems creates synergistic nanocomposites with improved robustness and broader applicability.

Conclusions:

Multifunctional PNIPAAm systems, including those with tailored comonomers and nanomaterials, offer advanced solutions for controlled drug delivery, tissue engineering, and environmental remediation.
These systems represent a significant advancement in developing smart, sustainable materials for various scientific and industrial fields.