Dual stimuli-responsive polymers derived from α-amino acids: Effects of molecular structure, molecular weight and end-group

Four kinds of well defined poly(N-methacryloyl-L-amino acid)s were prepared via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The effects of molecular structure, molecular weight, and end-group on their responsive properties in water were investigated. We found that the monomer structure is critical for the polymer to exhibit stimuli-responsive properties in water; only polymers derived from aspartic acid showed defined dual thermo- and pH-responsive properties. To study the effects of molecular weight and end group on the lower critical solution temperature behavior of poly(N-methacryloyl-L-beta-isopropyl aspartic acid) (PMAIPAC), a series of PMAIPAC homopolymers with controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersities were prepared and treated with excess radical initiators to give defined end groups. The cloud point of PMAIPAC was found to increase with the increase of solution pH, due to the ionization of carboxylic acid groups, and decrease with the increase of molecular weight. The structure of end groups also affects the cloud point of PMAIPAC particularly for low molecular weight samples at low pH. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.