Thermo-responsive polymers upper critical solution temperature

The reversible solubility changes of thermo-responsive polymers are due to small temperature alterations. The aqueous solutions of these polymers exhibit a critical solution temperature at which the solubility phase of the polymer is changed. Thermo-responsive polymers that are soluble in water above a certain temperature and insoluble below it exhibit upper critical solution temperature behaviour. On the... 

Thermo-responsive polymers have been used to release encapsulated drugs in response to temperature changes. These polymers typically undergo a rapid and reversible hydration-dehydration at lower critical solution temperature (LCST, from soluble to insoluble) or upper critical solution temperature (UCST, from insoluble to soluble) upon heating. [71] For example, a thermo-responsive polymer, poly (2-isopropyl- 2-oxazoline) (PiPrOx), was conjugated to pH-responsive poly(benzyl ether)dendrons, which exhibited sharp thermal transitions as well as pH-dependent behaviors (Fig. 4a).[105]... 

One of the more recently developed material classes is that of thermo-responsive polymers. This accounts mainly for those polymers showing a so-called lower critical solution temperature (LOST) or - to a much less extent - an upper critical solution temperature (UCST), meaning polymers that change their solution status significantly upon temperature changes. In general, this behaviour is the result of a delicate balance of hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups in the polymer. The major... 

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