Polymeric crown ethers: LCST behavior in water and stimuli-responsiveness

Dechun Huang; Qiao Zhang; Yan Deng; Zheng Luo; Bo Li; Xin Shen; Zhenhui Qi; Shengyi Dong; Yan Ge; Wei Chen

doi:10.1039/C8PY00412A

Polymeric crown ethers: LCST behavior in water and stimuli-responsiveness†

Dechun Huang,^a Qiao Zhang,^b Yan Deng,^b Zheng Luo,^b Bo Li,^c Xin Shen,^c Zhenhui Qi,^c Shengyi Dong,

*^b Yan Ge*^c and Wei Chen*^a

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* Corresponding authors

^a Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, P. R. China
E-mail: w.chen@cpu.edu.cn

^b College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
E-mail: dongsy@hnu.edu.cn

^c Sino-German Joint Research Lab for Space Biomaterials and Translational Technology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 Youyi Xilu, Xi'an, Shaanxi, P. R. China
E-mail: ge@nwpu.edu.cn

Abstract

A crown ether-functionalized poly(vinyl alcohol) system that shows lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase separation behavior in water was developed. In this hybrid polymer–small molecule system, benzo-21-crown-7 units act as signal detectors and receptors, detecting changes of temperature and salt. While PVA backbones act as signal amplifiers. This system can respond to very weak external stimuli and realizes LCST behavior at low temperatures and concentrations. This new system not only displays novel LCST behavior and selective responsiveness, but also overcomes disadvantages of some small molecule-induced LCST systems.

Polymer Chemistry

Polymeric crown ethers: LCST behavior in water and stimuli-responsiveness†

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Polymeric crown ethers: LCST behavior in water and stimuli-responsiveness

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