@article{PilusoHieblGorbetal.2011,
  author    = {Piluso, Susanna and Hiebl, Bernhard and Gorb, Stanislav N. and Kovalev, Alexander and Lendlein, Andreas and Neffe, Axel T.},
  title     = {Hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels crosslinked by copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition with tailorable mechanical properties},
  series = {The international journal of artificial organs},
  volume    = {34},
  journal   = {The international journal of artificial organs},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {Wichtig},
  address   = {Milano},
  issn      = {0391-3988},
  doi       = {10.5301/IJAO.2011.6394},
  pages     = {192 -- 197},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {Biopolymers of the extracellular matrix are attractive starting materials for providing degradable and biocompatible biomaterials. In this study, hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties were prepared by the use of copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (known as "click chemistry"). Alkyne-functionalized hyaluronic acid was crosslinked with linkers having two terminal azide functionalities, varying crosslinker density as well as the lengths and rigidity of the linker molecules. By variation of the crosslinker density and crosslinker type, hydrogels with elastic moduli in the range of 0.5-4 kPa were prepared. The washed materials contained a maximum of 6.8 mg copper per kg dry weight and the eluate of the gel crosslinked with diazidostilbene did not show toxic effects on L929 cells. The hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels have potential as biomaterials for cell culture or soft tissue regeneration applications.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{NeffeLoebusZaupaetal.2011,
  author    = {Neffe, Axel T. and Loebus, Axel and Zaupa, Alessandro and St{\"o}tzel, Christian and M{\"u}ller, Frank A. and Lendlein, Andreas},
  title     = {Gelatin functionalization with tyrosine derived moieties to increase the interaction with hydroxyapatite fillers},
  series = {Acta biomaterialia},
  volume    = {7},
  journal   = {Acta biomaterialia},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Oxford},
  issn      = {1742-7061},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.actbio.2010.11.025},
  pages     = {1693 -- 1701},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {Combining gelatins functionalized with the tyrosine-derived groups desaminotyrosine or desaminotyrosyl tyrosine with hydroxyapatite (HAp) led to the formation of composite materials with much lower swelling ratios than those of the pure matrices. Shifts of the infra-red (IR) bands related to the free carboxyl groups could be observed in the presence of HAp, which suggested a direct interaction of matrix and filler that formed additional physical cross-links in the material. In tensile tests and rheological measurements the composites equilibrated in water had increased Young's moduli (from 200 kPa up to 2 MPa) and tensile strengths (from 57 kPa up to 1.1 MPa) compared with the matrix polymers without affecting the elongation at break. Furthermore, an increased thermal stability of the networks from 40 to 85 degrees C could be demonstrated. The differences in the behaviour of the functionalized gelatins compared with pure gelatin as a matrix suggested an additional stabilizing bond between the incorporated aromatic groups and the HAp as supported by the IR results. The composites can potentially be applied as bone fillers.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ZhongWangAdelsbergeretal.2011,
  author    = {Zhong, Qi and Wang, Weinan and Adelsberger, Joseph and Golosova, Anastasia and Koumba, Achille M. Bivigou and Laschewsky, Andr{\´e} and Funari, Sergio S. and Perlich, Jan and Roth, Stephan V. and Papadakis, Christine M. and M{\"u}ller-Buschbaum, Peter},
  title     = {Collapse transition in thin films of poly(methoxydiethylenglycol acrylate)},
  series = {Colloid and polymer science : official journal of the Kolloid-Gesellschaft},
  volume    = {289},
  journal   = {Colloid and polymer science : official journal of the Kolloid-Gesellschaft},
  number    = {5-6},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {New York},
  issn      = {0303-402X},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00396-011-2384-1},
  pages     = {569 -- 581},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {The thermal behavior of poly(methoxydiethylenglycol acrylate) (PMDEGA) is studied in thin hydrogel films on solid supports and is compared with the behavior in aqueous solution. The PMDEGA hydrogel film thickness is varied from 2 to 422 nm. Initially, these films are homogenous, as measured with optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray reflectivity, and grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS). However, they tend to de-wet when stored under ambient conditions. Along the surface normal, no long-ranged correlations between substrate and film surface are detected with GISAXS, due to the high mobility of the polymer at room temperature. The swelling of the hydrogel films as a function of the water vapor pressure and the temperature are probed for saturated water vapor pressures between 2,380 and 3,170 Pa. While the swelling capability is found to increase with water vapor pressure, swelling in dependence on the temperature revealed a collapse phase transition of a lower critical solution temperature type. The transition temperature decreases from 40.6 A degrees C to 36.6 A degrees C with increasing film thickness, but is independent of the thickness for very thin films below a thickness of 40 nm. The observed transition temperature range compares well with the cloud points observed in dilute (0.1 wt.\%) and semi-dilute (5 wt.\%) solution which decrease from 45 A degrees C to 39 A degrees C with increasing concentration.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{TartivelBehlSchroeteretal.2012,
  author    = {Tartivel, Lucile and Behl, Marc and Schr{\"o}ter, Michael and Lendlein, Andreas},
  title     = {Hydrogel networks based on ABA triblock copolymers},
  series = {Journal of applied biomaterials \& functional materials},
  volume    = {10},
  journal   = {Journal of applied biomaterials \& functional materials},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {Wichtig},
  address   = {Milano},
  issn      = {2280-8000},
  doi       = {10.5301/JABFM.2012.10295},
  pages     = {243 -- 248},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Background: Triblock copolymers from hydrophilic oligo(ethylene glycol) segment A and oligo(propylene glycol) segment B, providing an ABA structure (OEG-OPG-OEG triblock), are known to be biocompatible and are used as self-solidifying gels in drug depots. A complete removal of these depots would be helpful in cases of undesired side effects of a drug, but this remains a challenge as they liquefy below their transition temperature. Therefore we describe the synthesis of covalently cross-linked hydrogel networks. Method: Triblock copolymer-based hydrogels were created by irradiating aqueous solutions of the corresponding macro-dimethacrylates with UV light. The degree of swelling, swelling kinetics, mechanical properties and morphology of the networks were investigated. Results: Depending on precursor concentration, equilibrium degree of swelling of the films ranged between 500\% and 880\% and was reached in 1 hour. In addition, values for storage and loss moduli of the hydrogel networks were in the 100 Pa to 10 kPa range. Conclusion: Although OEG-OPG-OEG triblocks are known for their micellization, which could hamper polymer network formation, reactive OEG-OPG-OEG triblock oligomers could be successfully polymerized into hydrogel networks. The degree of swelling of these hydrogels depends on their molecular weight and on the oligomer concentration used for hydrogel preparation. In combination with the temperature sensitivity of the ABA triblock copolymers, it is assumed that such hydrogels might be beneficial for future medical applications -e.g., removable drug release systems.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Buller2013,
  author    = {Buller, Jens},
  title     = {Entwicklung neuer stimuli-sensitiver Hydrogelfilme als Plattform f{\"u}r die Biosensorik},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-66261},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {Diese Arbeit befasst sich mit der Synthese und der Charakterisierung von thermoresponsiven Polymeren und ihrer Immobilisierung auf festen Oberfl{\"a}chen als nanoskalige d{\"u}nne Schichten. Dabei wurden thermoresponsive Polymere vom Typ der unteren kritischen Entmischungstemperatur (engl.: lower critical solution temperature, LCST) verwendet. Sie sind bei niedrigeren Temperaturen im L{\"o}sungsmittel gut und nach Erw{\"a}rmen oberhalb einer bestimmten kritischen Temperatur nicht mehr l{\"o}slich; d. h. sie weisen bei einer bestimmten Temperatur einen Phasen{\"u}bergang auf. Als Basismaterial wurden verschiedene thermoresponsive und biokompatible Polymere basierend auf Diethylenglykolmethylethermethacrylat (MEO2MA) und Oligo(ethylenglykol)methylethermethacrylat (OEGMA475, Mn = 475 g/ mol) {\"u}ber frei radikalische Copolymerisation synthetisiert. Der thermoresponsive Phasen{\"u}bergang der Copolymere wurde in w{\"a}ssriger L{\"o}sung und in gequollenen vernetzten d{\"u}nnen Schichten beobachtet. Außerdem wurde untersucht, inwiefern eine selektive Proteinbindung an geeignete funktionalisierte Copolymere die Phasen{\"u}bergangstemperatur beeinflusst. Die thermoresponsiven Copolymere wurden {\"u}ber photovernetzbare Gruppen auf festen Oberfl{\"a}chen immobilisiert. Die n{\"o}tigen lichtempfindlichen Vernetzereinheiten wurden mittels des polymerisierbaren Benzophenonderivates 2 (4 Benzoylphenoxy)ethylmethacrylat (BPEM) in das Copolymer integriert. D{\"u}nne Filme der Copolymere mit ca. 100 nm Schichtdicke wurden {\"u}ber Rotationsbeschichtung auf Siliziumwafer aufgeschleudert und anschließend durch Bestrahlung mit UV Licht vernetzt und auf der Oberfl{\"a}che immobilisiert. Die Filme sind stabiler je gr{\"o}ßer der Vernetzeranteil und je gr{\"o}ßer die Molmasse der Copolymere ist. Bei einem Waschprozess nach der Vernetzung wird beispielsweise aus einem Film mit moderater Molmasse und geringem Vernetzeranteil mehr unvernetztes Copolymer ausgewaschen als bei einem h{\"o}hermolekularen Copolymer mit hohem Vernetzeranteil. Die Quellbarkeit der Polymerschichten wurde mit Ellipsometrie untersucht. Sie ist gr{\"o}ßer je geringer der Vernetzeranteil in den Copolymeren ist. Schichten aus thermoresponsiven OEG Copolymeren zeigen einen Volumenphasen{\"u}bergang vom Typ der LCST. Der thermoresponsive Kollaps der Schichten ist komplett reversibel, die Kollapstemperatur kann {\"u}ber die Zusammensetzung der Copolymere eingestellt werden. F{\"u}r einen Vergleich dieser Eigenschaften mit dem gut charakterisierten und derzeit wohl am h{\"a}ufigsten untersuchten thermoresponsiven Polymer Poly(N-isopropylacrylamid) (PNIPAM) wurden zus{\"a}tzlich photovernetzte Schichten aus PNIPAM hergestellt und ebenfalls ellipsometrisch vermessen. Im Vergleich zu PNIPAM verl{\"a}uft der Phasen{\"u}bergang der Schichten aus den Copolymeren mit Oligo(ethylenglykol)-seitenketten (OEG Copolymere) {\"u}ber einen gr{\"o}ßeren Temperaturbereich. Mit Licht einer Wellenl{\"a}nge > 300 nm wurden die photosensitiven Benzophenongruppen selektiv angeregt. Bei der Verwendung kleinerer Wellenl{\"a}ngen vernetzten die Copolymerschichten auch ohne die Anwesenheit der lichtempfindlichen Benzophenongruppen. Dieser Effekt ließ sich zur kontrollierten Immobilisierung und Vernetzung der OEG Copolymere einsetzen. Als weitere Methode zur Immobilisierung der Copolymere wurde die Anbindung {\"u}ber Amidbindungen untersucht. Dazu wurden OEG Copolymere mit dem carboxylgruppenhaltigen 2 Succinyloxyethylmethacrylat (MES) auf mit 3 Aminopropyldimethylethoxysilan (APDMSi) silanisierte Siliziumwafer rotationsbeschichtet, und mit dem oligomeren α, ω Diamin Jeffamin® ED 900 vernetzt. Die Vernetzungsreaktion erfolgte ohne weitere Zus{\"a}tze durch Erhitzen der Proben. Die Hydrogelschichten waren anschließend stabil und zeigten neben thermoresponsivem auch pH responsives Verhalten. Um zu untersuchen, ob die Phasen{\"u}bergangstemperatur durch eine Proteinbindung beeinflusst werden kann, wurde ein polymerisierbares Biotinderivat 2 Biotinyl-aminoethylmethacrylat (BAEMA) in das thermoresponsive Copolymer eingebaut. Der Einfluss des biotinbindenen Proteins Avidin auf das thermoresponsive Verhalten des Copolymers in L{\"o}sung wurde untersucht. Die spezifische Bindung von Avidin an das biotinylierte Copolymer verschob die {\"U}bergangstemperatur deutlich zu h{\"o}heren Temperaturen. Kontrollversuche zeigten, dass dieses Verhalten auf eine selektive Proteinbindung zur{\"u}ckzuf{\"u}hren ist. Thermoresponsive OEG Copolymere mit photovernetzbaren Gruppen aus BPEM und Biotingruppen aus BAEMA wurden {\"u}ber Rotationsbeschichtung auf Gold- und auf Siliziumoberfl{\"a}chen aufgetragen und durch UV Strahlung vernetzt. Die spezifische Bindung von Avidin an die Copolymerschicht wurde mit Oberfl{\"a}chenplasmonenresonanz und Ellipsometrie untersucht. Die Bindungskapazit{\"a}t der Schichten war umso gr{\"o}ßer, je kleiner der Vernetzeranteil, d. h. je gr{\"o}ßer die Maschenweite des Netzwerkes war. Die Quellbarkeit der Schichten wurde durch die Avidinbindung erh{\"o}ht. Bei hochgequollenen Systemen verursachte eine Mehrfachbindung des tetravalenten Avidins allerdings eine zus{\"a}tzliche Quervernetzung des Polymernetzwerkes. Dieser Effekt wirkt der erh{\"o}hten Quellbarkeit durch die Avidinbindung entgegen und l{\"a}sst die Polymernetzwerke schrumpfen.},
  language  = {de}
}
@article{BertzWoehlBruhnMietheetal.2013,
  author    = {Bertz, Andreas and W{\"o}hl-Bruhn, Stefanie and Miethe, Sebastian and Tiersch, Brigitte and Koetz, Joachim and Hust, Michael and Bunjes, Heike and Menzel, Henning},
  title     = {Encapsulation of proteins in hydrogel carrier systems for controlled drug delivery influence of network structure and drug size on release rate},
  series = {Journal of biotechnology},
  volume    = {163},
  journal   = {Journal of biotechnology},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  issn      = {0168-1656},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2012.06.036},
  pages     = {243 -- 249},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {Novel hydrogels based on hydroxyethyl starch modified with polyethylene glycol methacrylate (HES-P(EG)(6)MA) were developed as delivery system for the controlled release of proteins. Since the drug release behavior is supposed to be related to the pore structure of the hydrogel network the pore sizes were determined by cryo-SEM, which is a mild technique for imaging on a nanometer scale. The results showed a decreasing pore size and an increase in pore homogeneity with increasing polymer concentration. Furthermore, the mesh sizes of the hydrogels were calculated based on swelling data. Pore and mesh size were significantly different which indicates that both structures are present in the hydrogel. The resulting structural model was correlated with release data for bulk hydrogel cylinders loaded with FITC-dextran and hydrogel microspheres loaded with FITC-IgG and FITC-dextran of different molecular size. The initial release depended much on the relation between hydrodynamic diameter and pore size while the long term release of the incorporated substances was predominantly controlled by degradation of the network of the much smaller meshes.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ZhongAdelsbergerNiedermeieretal.2013,
  author    = {Zhong, Qi and Adelsberger, Joseph and Niedermeier, M. A. and Golosova, Anastasi and Bivigou Koumba, Achille Mayelle and Laschewsky, Andr{\´e} and Funari, S. S. and Papadakis, Christine M. and M{\"u}ller-Buschbaum, Peter},
  title     = {The influence of selective solvents on the transition behavior of poly(styrene-b-monomethoxydiethylenglycol-acrylate-b-styrene) thick films},
  series = {Colloid and polymer science : official journal of the Kolloid-Gesellschaft},
  volume    = {291},
  journal   = {Colloid and polymer science : official journal of the Kolloid-Gesellschaft},
  number    = {6},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {New York},
  issn      = {0303-402X},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00396-012-2879-4},
  pages     = {1439 -- 1451},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {Thick poly(styrene-b-monomethoxydiethylenglycol-acrylate-b-styrene) [P(S-b-MDEGA-b-S)] films (thickness 5 mu m) are prepared from different solvents on flexible substrates by solution casting and investigated with small-angle X-ray scattering. As the solvents are either PS- or PMDEGA-selective, micelles with different core-shell micellar structures are formed. In PMDEGA-selective solvents, the PS block is the core and PMDEGA is the shell, whereas in PS-selective solvents, the order is reversed. After exposing the films to liquid D2O, the micellar structure inside the films prepared from PMDEGA-selective solvents remains unchanged and only the PMDEGA (shell part) swells. On the contrary, in the films prepared from PS-selective solvents, the micelles revert the core and the shell. This reversal causes more entanglements of the PMDEGA chains between the micelles. Moreover, the thermal collapse transition of the PMDEGA block in liquid D2O is significantly broadened. Irrespective of the solvent used for film preparation, the swollen PMDEGA shell does not show a prominent shrinkage when passing the phase transition, and the transition process occurs via compaction. The collapsed micelles have a tendency to densely pack above the transition temperature.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{RichterZakrevskyyEiseleetal.2014,
  author    = {Richter, Marcel and Zakrevskyy, Yuriy and Eisele, Michael and Lomadze, Nino and Santer, Svetlana and von Klitzing, Regine},
  title     = {Effect of pH, co-monomer content, and surfactant structure on the swelling behavior of microgel-azobenzene-containing surfactant complex},
  series = {Polymer : the international journal for the science and technology of polymers},
  volume    = {55},
  journal   = {Polymer : the international journal for the science and technology of polymers},
  number    = {25},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Oxford},
  issn      = {0032-3861},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.polymer.2014.10.027},
  pages     = {6513 -- 6518},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {The contraction/swelling transition of anionic PNIPAM-co-AAA particles can be manipulated by light using interactions with cationic azobenzene-containing surfactant. In this study the influence of pH-buffers and their concentrations, the charge density (AAA content) in microgel particles as well as the spacer length of the surfactant on the complex formation between the microgel and surfactant is investigated. It is shown that the presence of pH buffer can lead to complete blocking of the interactions in such complexes and the resulting microgel contraction/swelling response. There is a clear competition between the buffer ions and the surfactant molecules interacting with microgel particles. When working in pure water solutions with fixed concentration (charge density) of microgel, the contraction/swelling of the particles is controlled only by relative concentration (charge ratio) of the surfactant and AAA groups of the microgel. Furthermore, the particle contraction is more efficient for shorter spacer length of the surfactant. The onset point of the contraction process is not affected by the surfactant hydrophobicity. This work provides new insight into the interaction between microgel particles and photo-sensitive surfactants, which offers high potential in new sensor systems. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Niedl2015,
  author    = {Niedl, Robert Raimund},
  title     = {Nichtlineare Kinetik und responsive Hydrogele f{\"u}r papierbasierte Schnelltestanwendungen},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-77735},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {iv, 128},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Viele klinische Schnelltestsysteme ben{\"o}tigen vorpr{\"a}parierte oder aufgereinigte Analyte mit frisch hergestellten L{\"o}sungen. Fernab standardisierter Laborbedingungen wie z.B. in Entwicklungsl{\"a}ndern oder Krisengebieten sind solche Voraussetzungen oft nur unter einem hohen Aufwand herstellbar. Zus{\"a}tzlich stellt die erforderliche Sensitivit{\"a}t die Entwicklung einfach zu handhabender Testsysteme vor große Herausforderungen. Autokatalytische Reaktionen, die sich mit Hilfe sehr geringer Initiatorkonzentrationen ausl{\"o}sen lassen, k{\"o}nnen hier eine Perspektive f{\"u}r Signalverst{\"a}rkungsprozesse bieten. Aus diesem Grund wird im ersten Teil der vorliegenden Arbeit das Verhalten der autokatalytischen Arsenit-Jodat-Reaktion in einem mikrofluidischen Kanal untersucht. Dabei werden insbesondere die diffusiven und konvektiven Einfl{\"u}sse auf die Reaktionskinetik im Vergleich zu makroskopischen Volumenmengen betrachtet. Im zweiten Teil werden thermoresponsive Hydrogele mit einem kanalstrukturierten Papiernetzwerk zu einem neuartigen, kapillargetriebenen, extern steuerbaren Mikrofluidik-System kombiniert. Das hier vorgestellte Konzept durch Hydrogele ein papierbasiertes LOC-System zu steuern, erm{\"o}glicht zuk{\"u}nftig die Herstellung von komplexeren, steuerbaren Point-Of-Care Testsystemen (POCT). Durch z.B. einen thermischen Stimulus, wird das L{\"o}sungsverhalten eines Hydrogels so ver{\"a}ndert, dass die gespeicherte Fl{\"u}ssigkeit freigesetzt und durch die Kapillarkraft des Papierkanals ins System transportiert wird. Die Eigenschaften dieses Gelnetzwerks k{\"o}nnen dabei so eingestellt werden, dass eine Freisetzung von Fl{\"u}ssigkeiten sogar bei K{\"o}rpertemperatur m{\"o}glich w{\"a}re und damit eine Anwendung g{\"a}nzlich ohne weitere Hilfsmittel denkbar ist. F{\"u}r die Anwendung notwendige Chemikalien oder Enzyme lassen sich hierbei bequem in getrocknetem Zustand im Papiersubstrat vorlagern und bei Bedarf in L{\"o}sung bringen. Im abschließenden dritten Teil der Arbeit wird ein durch Hydrogele betriebener, Antik{\"o}rper-basierter Mikroorganismenschnelltest f{\"u}r Escherichia coli pr{\"a}sentiert. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus wird weiterf{\"u}hrend eine einfache Methode zur Funktionalisierung eines Hydrogels mit Biomolek{\"u}len {\"u}ber EDC/NHS-Kopplung vorgestellt.},
  language  = {de}
}
@article{AdelsbergerBivigouKoumbaMiasnikovaetal.2015,
  author    = {Adelsberger, Joseph and Bivigou Koumba, Achille Mayelle and Miasnikova, Anna and Busch, Peter and Laschewsky, Andr{\´e} and M{\"u}ller-Buschbaum, Peter and Papadakis, Christine M.},
  title     = {Polystyrene-block-poly (methoxy diethylene glycol acrylate)-block-polystyrene triblock copolymers in aqueous solution-a SANS study of the temperature-induced switching behavior},
  series = {Colloid and polymer science : official journal of the Kolloid-Gesellschaft},
  volume    = {293},
  journal   = {Colloid and polymer science : official journal of the Kolloid-Gesellschaft},
  number    = {5},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {New York},
  issn      = {0303-402X},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00396-015-3535-6},
  pages     = {1515 -- 1523},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {A concentrated solution of a symmetric triblock copolymer with a thermoresponsive poly(methoxy diethylene glycol acrylate) (PMDEGA) middle block and short hydrophobic, fully deuterated polystyrene end blocks is investigated in D2O where it undergoes a lower critical solution temperature-type phase transition at ca. 36 A degrees C. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) in a wide temperature range (15-50 A degrees C) is used to characterize the size and inner structure of the micelles as well as the correlation between the micelles and the formation of aggregates by the micelles above the cloud point (CP). A model featuring spherical core-shell micelles, which are correlated by a hard-sphere potential or a sticky hard-sphere potential together with a Guinier form factor describing aggregates formed by the micelles above the CP, fits the SANS curves well in the entire temperature range. The thickness of the thermoresponsive micellar PMDEGA shell as well as the hard-sphere radius increase slightly already below the cloud point. Whereas the thickness of the thermoresponsive micellar shell hardly shrinks when heating through the CP and up to 50 A degrees C, the hard-sphere radius decreases within 3.5 K at the CP. The volume fraction decreases already significantly below the CP, which may be at the origin of the previously observed gel-sol transition far below the CP (Miasnikova et al., Langmuir 28: 4479-4490, 2012). Above the CP, small, and at higher temperatures, large aggregates are formed by the micelles.},
  language  = {en}
}