Thermo-Responsive Porous Membranes of Controllable Porous Morphology from Triblock Copolymers of Polycaprolactone and Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Prepared by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

• Published in: Biomacromolecules 2008-01, Vol.9 (1), p.331-339
• Main Authors: Xu, F. J, Li, J, Yuan, S. J, Zhang, Z. X, Kang, E. T, Neoh, K. G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acrylamides - chemistry; Acrylic Resins; Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Exchange resins and membranes; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Membranes, Artificial; Polyesters - chemistry; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymers - chemistry; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 1525-7797; 1526-4602
• DOI: 10.1021/bm7008922

Stimuli-responsive polymers are of crucial importance in the design of smart biomaterials. The thermo-responsive triblock copolymers of polycaprolactone (PCL) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (P(NIPAAm)), or P(NIPAAm)-b-PCL-b- P(NIPAAm) copolymers, were synthesized in this work via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The P(NIPAAm)-b-PCL-b-P(NIPAAm) copolymers were cast by phase inversion in water into porous membranes with well-defined and uniformly distributed pores. The P(NIPAAm) content in the P(NIPAAm)-b-PCL-b- P(NIPAAm) copolymers and the temperature of the aqueous medium for phase inversion could be used to control the pore size and porosity of the membranes. The thermo-responsive characteristics of the membranes were illustrated in the controlled water uptake and temperature-dependent glucose transport through the membranes. These temperature-sensitive membranes with controllable morphology have potential applications in biomedical engineering, drug delivery, and tissue engineering.