Preparation and Thermosensitivity of N-Isopropylacrylamide Microgels Containing L-Phenylalanine

Novel chiral temperature-sensitive microgels based on N-isopropylacrylamide are reported in this paper. Such particles, poly (N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid-L-phenylalanine ethyl ester)[ poly (NIPAM-co-ALPhe)], were prepared by free radical polymerization of NIPAM, chiral monomer ALPhe and crosslinker N,N,-methylene-bis (acrylamide). The microgels exhibit spherical shape and favorable monodispersity. Increasing the content of ALPhe units incorporated into the microgel network will increase the average diameter, but decrease the swelling ratios and the transition temperature of particles.