HR-MAS NMR Characterization of Thermo-responsive Polymer Gels: Network Collapse Dynamics and Intermolecular Interactions

High resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) NMR techniques provide effective atomic level characterization methods for heterogeneous systems such as tissues and polymer gels by sufficiently reducing the line broadening caused by the residual dipolar couplings or chemical shift anisotropy. In this chapter, the recent progress in HR-MAS NMR characterization of polymer gels is summarized. In particular, HR-MAS NMR methods for probing the network collapse dynamics and intermolecular interactions in thermo-responsive polymer gel systems are overviewed.