NIPAM-based microgel particles

Much of the work reported in the academic literature is based upon microgels prepared from poly(NIPAM), but there are, however, a number of microgels that have been prepared from other monomers. These include methyl methacrylate with other copolymers such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (17,18), methyl methacrylate with p-divinylbenzene (19), and methyl methacrylate with methacrylic acid (20). Other microgel particles have been prepared from poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (21), vinylpyrrolidinone and acrylic acid (22), acrylamide and acrylamide with methacrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chloride (23), and acrylamide copolymerized with 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (24). 

FIGURE 9.5 Schematic representation of batch preparation of functionalized thermally sensitive poly(NIPAM) microgel particles. Basically, to perform such polymerization by a non-polymer chemistry scientist, this recipe based on 1 g of NIPAM, 0.12 g of MBA, 0.012 g of KPS, and 50 mL water in closed battle and placed at 70°C leads to monodisperse microgel particles. 

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