Study of the Thermal Phase Transition of Poly(-diethylacrylamide---ethylacrylamide) Random Copolymers in Aqueous Solution.

-alkyl-substituted polyacrylamides exhibit a thermal coil-to-globule transition in aqueous solution driven by an increase in hydrophobic interactions with rising temperature. With the aim of understanding the role of -alkyl substituents in the thermal transition, this study focuses on the molecular interactions underlying the phase transition of poly(-diethylacrylamide---ethylacrylamide) random copolymers. Poly(-diethylacrylamide) (PDEAm), poly(-ethylacrylamide) (PNEAm), and their random copolymers were synthesized by free radical polymerization and their chemical structure characterized spectroscopically.

Chitosan Derivatives: Introducing New Functionalities with a Controlled Molecular Architecture for Innovative Materials.

The functionalization of polymeric substances is of great interest for the development of innovative materials for advanced applications. For many decades, the functionalization of chitosan has been a convenient way to improve its properties with the aim of preparing new materials with specialized characteristics. In the present review, we summarize the latest methods for the modification and derivatization of chitin and chitosan under experimental conditions, which allow a control over the macromolecular architecture.

Aerogels from Chitosan Solutions in Ionic Liquids.

Chitosan aerogels conjugates the characteristics of nanostructured porous materials, i.e., extended specific surface area and nano scale porosity, with the remarkable functional properties of chitosan.

N-(furfural) chitosan hydrogels based on Diels-Alder cycloadditions and application as microspheres for controlled drug release.

In this study, chitosan was chemically modified by reductive amination in a two-step process. The synthesis of N-(furfural) chitosan (FC) was confirmed by FT-IR and (1)H NMR analysis, and the degrees of substitution were estimated as 8.3 and 23.