Relating side chain organization of PNIPAm with its conformation in aqueous methanol

Debashish Mukherji, Manfred Wagner, Mark D. Watson, Svenja Winzen, Tiago E. De Oliveira, Carlos M. Marques, Kurt Kremer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

75 Scopus citations

Abstract

Combining nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and μs long all-atom simulations with two million particles, we establish a delicate correlation between increased side chain organization of PNIPAm and its collapse in aqueous methanol mixtures. We find that the preferential binding of methanol with PNIPAm side chains, bridging distal monomers along the polymer backbone, results in increased organization. Furthermore, methanol-PNIPAm preferential binding is dominated by hydrogen bonding. Our findings reveal that the collapse of PNIPAm is dominated by enthalpic interactions and that the standard poor solvent (entropic) effects play no major role.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7995-8003
Number of pages9
JournalSoft Matter
Volume12
Issue number38
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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