Influence of high-pressure on cononsolvency of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanogels in water/methanol mixtures

We show that the temperature-induced collapse of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAm) nanogels in water/methanol mixtures can be reversed by excess hydrostatic pressure. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) results reveal that first a swollen surface layer is established and then the particles swell homogeneously. A threshold pressure needed for rewelling fully collapsed nanogels indicates that hydrophobic interactions inside the nanogel have to be compensated to form a swollen surface layer. The size change is related to a change in polymer solvation detected by infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Pressure favours polymer/water hydrogen bonds to the cost of methanol/polymer bonds so that water is enriched inside the nanogel.