@phdthesis{Henschel2023,
  author    = {Henschel, Cristiane},
  title     = {Thermoresponsive polymers with co-nonsolvency behavior},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-57716},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-577161},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {xiv, 260},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Despite the popularity of thermoresponsive polymers, much is still unknown about their behavior, how it is triggered, and what factors influence it, hindering the full exploitation of their potential. One particularly puzzling phenomenon is called co-nonsolvency, in which a polymer is soluble in two individual solvents, but counter-intuitively becomes insoluble in mixtures of both. Despite the innumerous potential applications of such systems, including actuators, viscosity regulators and as carrier structures, this field has not yet been extensively studied apart from the classical example of poly(N isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) in mixtures of water and methanol. Therefore, this thesis focuses on evaluating how changes in the chemical structure of the polymers impact the thermoresponsive, aggregation and co-nonsolvency behaviors of both homopolymers and amphiphilic block copolymers. Within this scope, both the synthesis of the polymers and their characterization in solution is investigated. Homopolymers were synthesized by conventional free radical polymerization, whereas block copolymers were synthesized by consecutive reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerizations. The synthesis of the monomers N isopropyl methacrylamide (NIPMAM) and N vinyl isobutyramide (NVIBAM), as well as a few chain transfer agents is also covered. Through turbidimetry measurements, the thermoresponsive and co-nonsolvency behavior of PNIPMAM and PNVIBAM homopolymers is then compared to the well-known PNIPAM, in aqueous solutions with 9 different organic co-solvents. Additionally, the effects of end-groups, molar mass, and concentration are investigated. Despite the similarity of their chemical structures, the 3 homopolymers show significant differences in transition temperatures and some divergences in their co-nonsolvency behavior. More complex systems are also evaluated, namely amphiphilic di- and triblock copolymers of PNIPAM and PNIPMAM with polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) hydrophobic blocks. Dynamic light scattering is used to evaluate their aggregation behavior in aqueous and mixed aqueous solutions, and how it is affected by the chemical structure of the blocks, the chain architecture, presence of cosolvents and polymer concentration. The results obtained shed light into the thermoresponsive, co-nonsolvency and aggregation behavior of these polymers in solution, providing valuable information for the design of systems with a desired aggregation behavior, and that generate targeted responses to temperature and solvent mixture changes.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Kukula2001,
  author    = {Kukula, Hildegard},
  title     = {Lineare und verzweigte Blockcopolymere aus Polypeptiden und synthetischen Polymeren},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0000040},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2001},
  abstract  = {Die vorliegende Arbeit besch{\"a}ftigt sich mit der Synthese und den Eigenschaften von linearen und verzweigten amphiphilen Polypeptid-Blockcopolymeren. Die Frage nach dem Einfluss der Topologie und Konformation der Blockcopolymere auf die supramolekularen und kolloidalen Eigenschaften bildete einen wichtigen Aspekt bei den Untersuchungen. Die Blockcopolymere wurden nach einem mehrstufigen Reaktionsschema durch Kombination von anionischer und ring{\"o}ffnender Polymerisation von Aminos{\"a}uren-N-Carboxyanhydriden (NCA) synthetisiert. Die Untersuchung der Polypeptid-Blockcopolymere hinsichtlich ihres Aggregationsverhaltens in fester Phase sowie in verd{\"u}nnter w{\"a}ssriger L{\"o}sung erfolgte mittels Streumethoden (SAXS, WAXS, DLS) sowie abbildender Methoden (TEM). Durch Einsatz der Blockcopolymere als polymere Stabilisatoren in der Emulsionspolymerisation wurden Oberfl{\"a}chen funktionalisierte Latizes erhalten. Als Beispiel f{\"u}r eine pharmazeutische Anwendung wurden biovertr{\"a}gliche Polypeptid-Blockcopolymere als Wirkstoff-Tr{\"a}gersysteme in der Krebstherapie eingesetzt.},
  language  = {de}
}