Gel‐to‐Sol and Sol‐to‐Gel Transitions Utilizing the Interaction of α‐Cyclodextrin with Dodecyl Side Chains Attached to a Poly(acrylic acid) Backbone

Summary: By utilizing the interaction of α ‐cyclodextrin ( α ‐CD) with dodecyl side chains in polymers of x mol‐% dodecyl‐modified poly(acrylic acid) (p(AA/C 12 ( x ))), systems that undergo gel‐to‐sol and sol‐to‐gel transitions were successfully constructed. Rheological experiments indicated that addition of α ‐CD to the hydrogel of p(AA/C 12 (5)) caused a drastic decrease in the viscosity, while addition of oligo( α ‐CD) to the solution of p(AA/C 12 (2)) led to a remarkable increase in the viscosity. Photographs for a gel‐to‐sol transition upon addition of α ‐CD to 5.0 g · L −1 p(AA/C 12 (5)). magnified image Photographs for a gel‐to‐sol transition upon addition of α ‐CD to 5.0 g · L −1 p(AA/C 12 (5)).