Smart polymers exhibit stimuli-sensitive properties, making them important in many applications. These polymers can change shape, strength and pore size based on external factors such as temperature, pH and stress. This project aimed to develop a technique to produce multiple layers of smart polymers such as PAA and NIPAAM to respond to pH. The use of multiple crosslinked smart polymers enables tailoring of the response. Crosslinked PAA and NIPAAM samples were produced using Layer by layer (LbL) assembly, using a non-polar barrier. The swelling behavior of the crosslinked gels were characterized at acidic pH values. The crosslinked multilayered gels show significant reversible swelliing when the pH is changed and thus can act as effective sensors or drug delivery vehicles.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Blaess, Michael
• Vickery, Andrew Reed

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042811-093257

Advisor

• Shivkumar, Satya

Year

• 2011

Date created

• 2011-04-28

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright