Synthesis and thermosensitive behavior of dextran graft copolymers containing poly (N-vinylcaprolactam) side chains

Abstract

New graft copolymers were synthesized by grafting N-vinylcaprolactam onto dextran. Their composition and structure were investigated by elemental analyses, infrared spectra and thermogravimetric analyses. By optical transmittance measurements, it was found that the aqueous solutions of these graft copolymers showed a temperature-dependent transmittance change due to the introduction of thermosensitive poly (N-vinylcaprolactam) graft chains. Moreover, the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the graft copolymer in aqueous solution was dependent on its grafting extent and concentration. The LCST value was found to increase with the increase of the grafting extent and decrease with the increase of the copolymer concentration. With these stimuli-response properties, such polysaccharide derivative may hold potential applications in biomedicine and biotechnology.