A fluorescence probe study on the effects of surfactants on cloud points in aqueous poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) solutions

• DOI: 10.1038/pj.2014.93
• Publication Date: 2014-10-29T06:57:21Z
• Authors: Masashi Osa; Yu Itoda; Yuki Suzuki; Takaya Yumoto; Ayaka Yoshida
• Keywords: Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide); Sodium dodecyl sulfate; Cloud point; Cationic polymerization; Hydrophobic effect

Fluorescence probe methods were applied to investigate micelle formation of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) with surfactant, sodium n-dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or n-dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC), in aqueous solutions. Two PNIPA samples, one having a hydrophobic chain-end group (M sample) and the other having a negatively charged hydrophilic chain-end group (R sample), were used to investigate the effects of the chain-end group on the micelle formation. It is found that the microenvironmental polarity in the formed micelles depends on the kinds of chain-end group and surfactant.