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Updated: Aug 21, 2025

From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding
Published on: March 24, 2018
Effect of Imidazolium Nitrate Ionic Liquids on Conformational Changes of Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)
Reddicherla Umapathi1, Krishan Kumar1,2, Seyed Majid Ghoreishian1
1NanoBio High-Tech Materials Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Detailed information about molecular interactions and conformational changes of polymeric components in the presence of ionic liquids (ILs) is essential for designing novel polymeric ionic liquid-based biomaterials. In biomaterials science and technology, thermoresponsive polymers (TRPs) are widely viewed as potential candidates for the fabrication of biorelated medical devices. Here, we synthesized thermoresponsive poly(N-vinyl-caprolactam) (PVCL) polymer and investigated the effects of imidazolium-based ILs (1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium nitrate and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium nitrate) with common anion and different cations on the phase transition behavior of PVCL aqueous solution. The impact of ILs on the phase transition behavior of PVCL was monitored by using UV-visible absorption spectra, steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, thermal fluorescence spectroscopy, and temperature dependent dynamic light scattering. Results showed significant changes in the absorbance, molecular interactions, agglomeration, and coil to globule transition behaviors of PVCL in the presence of two ILs. PVCL aqueous solution showed significant conformational changes after the addition of ILs.
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