Thermo-responsive porous membranes of controllable porous morphology from triblock copolymers of polycaprolactone and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization

Biomacromolecules. 2008 Jan;9(1):331-9. doi: 10.1021/bm7008922. Epub 2007 Dec 8.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Acrylamides / chemistry*
  • Acrylic Resins
  • Membranes, Artificial*
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry*

Substances

  • Acrylamides
  • Acrylic Resins
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers
  • polycaprolactone
  • poly-N-isopropylacrylamide