Conformational changes upon high pressure induced hydration of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgels

Abstract

We investigated thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgels by high-pressure small angle X-ray scattering and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy below and above the collapse temperature. The measurements reveal little pressure-induced deswelling below the volume phase transition temperature and clear re-swelling of the collapsed gels at temperatures above the VPTT.