Lower Critical Solution Temperature Journal Article

Adsorption of pNIPAM Layers on Hydrophobic Gold Surfaces, Measured in Situ by QCM and SPR
[M. Plunkett et al./Langmuir (2003) 19 6837-6944]
Characterisation
Surface plasmon resonance (SPR):
QCM:
Facile Tailoring of Film Morphology and Release Properties Using Layer-by-Layer Assembly of
Thermoresponsive Materials [J. Quinn and F. Caruso/Langmuir (2004) 20 20-22]
PNIPAAm and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were used for dry LbL to study the effect of
temperature during layering on film deposition, mass and roughness.
Characterisation
QCM: Amount and trend of film build up at different temperatures
UV-Vis: Fluorescent loading and release of RhoB from (PNIPAAm/PAA)
10
at different
temperatures
AFM: Surface morphology and roughness
Conclusion

Hydrogen-Bonded Multilayers of Thermoresponsive Polymers [E. Kharlampieva et
al./Macromolecules (2005) 38 10523-10531]
Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) and poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) were temperature-
responsive polymers used for LbL with poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA).
(a) (b)
Figure 1. Chemical structures of (a) PVCL and (b) PVME
Planar study was conducted across four different hydrogen bonding system, (i) PVME, (ii)
PVCL, (iii) PVPON and (iv) PEO layered with PMAA. PVPON and PEO was incorporated as
comparison of film growth and thickness.
Temperature- dependent permeability was conducted on a membrane
Characterisation
Ellipsometry: Thickness measurement of planar films
FTIR-ATR: Amount of polymer absorbed on planar surface and degree of ionization of COOH
Thermoresponsive Nanoassemblies: Layer-by-Layber Assembly of Hydrophilic-Hydrophobic
Alternating Copolymers [J. Quinn and F. Caruso/Macromolecules (2005) 38 3414-3419]
Used poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(styrene-alt-maleic acid) (PSMA) for dry LbL on
quartz/silicon wafers

Surface Modification of Thermoresponsive Microgels via Layer-by-Layer Assembly of
Polyelectrolyte Multilayers [J. Wong and W. Richtering/Progr. Colloid Polym. Sci. (2006) 133 45-51]
Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAM) was used as a soft and porous template, with a LCST
32
o
C
NiPAM was also copolymerise with acrylic acid (P(NiPAM-co-AA)), which was used either as a
core template or a negatively-charge polymer coating for PNiPAM
Core size swelled below of LCST (hydrophilic coil) and collapsed above LCST (hydrophobic
globule)
Poly(diallyl dimethylammoniumchloride) (PDADMAC), polyethyleneimine (PEI) and
poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) were used as polyelectrolytes for LbL
Characterisation
DLS: Particle size determination with heating and cooling curve
Zeta potential: Electrophoretic mobility dependent on temperature and number of layers
Conclusion
Polyelectrolyte coating of PNiPAM or P(NiPAM-co-AA) core causes different
thermoresponsive behaviour
Click-Based Covalent Layer-by-Layer Assembly on Polyethylene Using Water-Soluble Polymeric
Reagents [D. Bergbreiter and B. Chance/Macromolecules (2007) 40 5337-5343]
Polyethylene (PE) films functionalised with alkyne group (PE
Alk
) was used as a planar surface
for LbL grafting. PNIPAM
Alk
and PNIPAM
Az
were used for click chemistry to achieve LbL
grafting

Figure 2. Chemical structure of PE
Characterisation

1
H NMR: Analysis of polymer composition
Attenuated Total Reflectance Infrared (ATR-IR): Analysis functionalization of PE film and
LbL grafting
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS): Verification and estimate of triazole functionality
Fluorescence: Demonstrate the presence of free azide group after LbL
Contact angle goniometry: Hydrophilicity of the surface
Conclusion
Alkyne and azide functionalised PNIPAM can be used for LbL grafting from an alkyne
modified PE surface. PNIPAM was used due to being easily precipitated and purified and its
thermoresponsive property was not explored.