Stimuli-reponsive polymers and their bioconjugates

Advanced functional polymer membranes

Responsive polymers in controlled drug delivery

In this brief review we address a range of interesting applications and prospects of responsive hydrogel thin films for the fabrication of “smart” responsive surfaces, membranes, sensors with various transduction mechanisms, micro/nanoactuators, and capsules. We show that hydrogel thin films compete with grafted polymers and demonstrate strong advantages for the fabrication of robust multifunctional and multiresponsive surfaces. This article reviews recent publications on the synthesis of responsive hydrogel thin films and hybrid films with entrapped nanoparticles and reagents by the chemical crosslinking of reactive polymers, layer-by-layer deposition, and block-copolymer self-assembly, as well as examining those publications to determine a range of applications.

Stimuli-responsive hydrogel thin films

Functional copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide for bioengineering applications

Permeation through a porous polycarbonate membrane, on which a thermosensitive polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), was immobilized, was investigated For photoimmobilization of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), photoreactive azidophenyl group was connected to the polymer either at a chain terminal or in side chains The two types of derivatized polymers had different lower critical solution temperature (LCST) Prescribed amounts of the derivatized polymer were cast on the polycarbonate membrane and photoirradiated When a small amount of polymer was used, a thin layer of immobilized polymer was not enough to cover pores of the polycarbonate membrane, while a thick gel layer of immobilized polymer was formed on the polycarbonate membrane to cover pores when a large amount of polymer was used The former is represented by “porous membrane”, and the latter by “nonporous membrane” The rate of water permeation through the porous membranes changed at different temperatures, although permeation through nonimmobili

Yoshihiro Ito, ,†,‡,§ and

Papers

Permeation Control through Porous Membranes Immobilized with Thermosensitive Polymer