Formation of Single Double-Layered Coacervate of Poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide) in Water by a Laser Tweezer.
Langmuir
; 37(9): 2874-2883, 2021 Mar 09.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33616404
We demonstrate liquid-liquid phase separation involving both coacervation and coil-to-globule phase transition of a thermoresponsive polymer. By focusing a near-infrared laser beam into an aqueous solution of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), a single phase-separated polymer microdroplet can be formed and stably trapped at the focal point. Such droplet formation is induced by a local elevation in temperature (induced by a photothermal effect) and an optical force. The technique allows us to selectively analyze a single polymer droplet trapped at the focal point. In this study, we applied this technique to poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide) (PDEA) in water and generated a double-layered PDEA droplet. Such an inhomogeneous and complex microstructure has not been previously observed both in steady-state heating of a PDEA solution and in the PNIPAM system. Moreover, we used micro-Raman spectroscopy to clarify that PDEA underwent dehydration due to a coil-to-globule phase transition. Despite this, the polymer concentration (Cpoly) of the trapped PDEA droplet was very low and was around 30 wt %. Cpoly depended on the molecular weight of PDEA and the laser power that regulates the temperature elevation. These results strongly indicate that PDEA undergoes coacervation in addition to a coil-to-globule phase transition. This study will help provide us with a fundamental understanding of the phase separation mechanisms of thermoresponsive polymers.
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1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Langmuir
Asunto de la revista:
QUIMICA
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Japón
Pais de publicación:
Estados Unidos