Selected applications of thermoresponsive polymers

Thermoresponsive polymers provide a promising basis for the development of smart materials. In this section, selected recent examples will be discussed to highlight this potential, focusing on the more common LCST polymers. For more comprehensive overviews of the use of thermoresponsive polymers for biomedical applications, the reader is referred to a number of recent review articles (De las Heras Alarcon et al., 2005 Schmaljohann, 2006 Ward and Theoni, 2011). 

The change in polymer conformation during the LCST transition can also be applied to control the proximity of side-chain functionalities. In a recent report, this characteristic of the polymer phase transition was exploited to control the binding kinetics of mannose-functionalized PNIPAM hydrogel 

14 Schematic representation of the concept of polymeric sensors based on a polymer phase transition as thermoresponsive structure and solvatochromic dyes to provide a visual or fluorescence read-out signal of the change in the polarity of the microenvironment (Pietsch et a ., 2011). (Source Reprinted with permission from the RSC.) 

15 Schematic representation to the reversible temperature-induced control over osmotic flux (top) and the structure of the utilized thermoresponsive butylated branched poly(ethylene imine) (Noh eta ., 2012). 

16 Temperature variation inside a miniaturized building during alternating rain and sun exposure cycles with and without a PNIPAM hydrogel on the roof (Rotzetter etal., 2012). Source Reprinted with permission from Wiley.) 

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