A Novel Poly( N-Isopropylacrylamide- co-acryloylamidobenzo-12-crown-4) Microgel with Rapid Stimuli-Responsiveness for Molecule-Specific Adsorption of γ-Cyclodextrin.

A novel poly( N-isopropylacrylamide- co-acryloylamidobenzo-12-crown-4) (PNB) microgel with rapid γ-cyclodextrin (CD)-responsive characteristics and adsorption property is developed. The microgel is composed of benzo-12-crown-4 (B12C4) units as molecule-recognition receptors and poly( N-isopropylacrylamide) networks as phase-transition actuators as well as adsorbent backbone chains. The PNB microgels significantly increase their volumes induced by γ-CD, and adsorb γ-CD molecules within PNB networks because of formation of γ-CD/B12C4 inclusion complexes. Detection of γ-CD-concentration and the molecule-specific adsorption processes of the microgels are investigated systematically. The PNB microgels provide a new tool for rapid concentration measurement and effective separation of γ-CD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]