Fabrication and aggregation of thermoresponsive glucose-functionalized double hydrophilic copolymers

Novel double-hydrophilic thermosensitive statistical glycopolymers, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-6-O-vinyladipoyl-d-glucose), were fabricated using a chemoenzymatic process and free radical copolymerization. The structures of the glycopolymers were confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR, and their molar mass distributions determined by gel permeation chromatography. UV–vis spectroscopy data showed that the polymers exhibited reproducible temperature-responsive behavior. The self-assembly and critical aggregation concentration was verified by fluorescence spectroscopy with pyrene acting as a hydrophobic probe. Measurements by laser light scattering and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the glycopolymers were able to self-assemble into aggregates with varying particle sizes and morphologies in aqueous solutions.