The Swelling and Transition Behavior of Thermo-Responsive Poly(2-(2-Methoxyethoxy) Ethoxyethyl Methacrylate-co-Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Methyl Ether Methacrylate) Thin Films

Thermo-responsive random copolymer poly (2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethoxyethyl methacrylate- co -poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate), abbreviated as P(MEO 2 MA- co -OEGMA 300 ) was synthesized by 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethoxyethyl methacrylate (MEO 2 MA) and poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA 300 ) with a molar ratio of 1:1 via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The structure of P(MEO 2 MA- co -OEGMA 300 ) was confirmed by 1 H NMR and GPC. The transition behaviors of P(MEO 2 MA- co -OEGMA 300 ) in aqueous solution were investigated by UV-Vis and DLS. While the transition behaviors of P(MEO 2 MA- co -OEGMA 300 ) thin films were probed by white light interferometry. Compared to the P(MEO 2 MA- co -OEGMA 300 ) in solution, it shows a much broader transition region, which is a promising candidate for the slow release of drug in the field of medicine.