Comparison of Thermosensitive Properties of Poly(amidoamine) Dendrimers with Peripheral N‐Isopropylamide Groups and Linear Polymers with the Same Groups

The sensitive type: A lower critical solution temperature (LCST) is observed for dendrimers with N-isopropylamide (NIPAM) groups at all chain terminals and for poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm; see picture). A much smaller endothermic peak occurs around the LCST for NIPAM-terminated dendrimers. The globular structure of the dendrimers may cause inefficient hydration and dehydration around NIPAM groups below and above the LCST, respectively.