Synthesis and Characterization of Thermally and Glucose-Sensitive Poly N-Vinylcaprolactam-Based Microgels

Temperature and glucose sensitive microgels were prepared via radical precipitation polymerization, using N-vinylcaprolactam (NVCL) as the main monomer, N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker, V50 as initiator and 4-vinylphenylboronic acid (VPBA) as a functional monomer. The LCST of homopoly(NVCL) was first determined and found to be around 33 degrees C. The preparation of microgels was examined as a function of crosslinker (MBA) and VPBA amount in the polymerization recipe. Each polymerization was examined by considering the polymerization conversion and water-soluble polymer formation. Transmission electron microscopy, Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and FT-IR characterizations show that the prepared microgels are monodisperse submicron particles, thermally sensitive and containing boronic acid functions. The effect of glucose on the swelling ability of boronic acid containing microgel was particularly examined and revealed the presence of specific interaction.