Thermoresponsive oligo(ethylene glycol)-methacrylate- based polymers and microgels

Since Lutz's and coworkers 2006 J. Am. Chem. Soc. paper on thermoresponsive properties of poly-oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylates (POEGMA), the publications on these polymers have grown rapidly. This highlight will cover some latest progresses in this active field. The selected topics include synthesizing POEGMA with various structures via controlled free radical polymerization techniques, coating flat and particle surfaces with POEGMA to impart thermo-responsive and antifouling properties to the materials, preparing biodegradable nanogels for controlled drug release, and using monodisperse POEGMA microgels as building blocks to form photonic hydrogels. As similarity of thermoresponsive and self-assembling properties between POEGMA and poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM) has been established, many previous works for PNIPAM could be applied to POEGMA polymers. The studies of POEGMA will open a new avenue for stimuli responsive polymer research because the POEGMA has advantages over the PNIPAM including biocompatibility and resistance to absorption of proteins.