Sliding Crosslinked Thermoresponsive Materials: Polypseudorotaxanes Made of Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) and Acrylamide-γ-Cyclodextrin

Novel polypseudorotaxanes (PPR) based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and acrylamide-gamma-cyclodextrin (A gamma CD) are successfully synthesized. A gamma CD gives rise to sliding crosslinking systems and influences the thermoresponsive and swelling behavior of PNIPAAm hydrogels. Namely, their lower critical solution temperature (LCST) can be tuned up to 38 degrees C, thus making the resulting materials of great interest in biomedical applications. Also, A gamma CD influences the thermal and mechanical properties of hydrogels, by affecting the T-g and E modulus values.