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Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) is never hydrophobic

2010; Elsevier BV; Volume: 348; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jcis.2010.05.034

1095-7103

Robert Pelton,

Electrostatics and Colloid Interactions

PNIPAM chains have hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains below and above the LCST. Temperature dependent interactions between PNIPAM and solutes arise because of changes in the local environment around the hydrophobic isopropyl domains. Below the LCST the isopropyl groups are surrounded by water, whereas above the LCST the hydrophobic groups are in contact with both water and polymer segments. Contrary to numerous claims in the literature, PNIPAM is not a hydrophobic material at temperatures above the LCST.