Complementary multiple hydrogen bonds stabilize thermo-sensitive supramolecular structures prepared from poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) and adenine-functionalized poly(ethylene oxide)

•Complementary multiple hydrogen bonds between PNIPAm and A-PEO-A.•Thermo-sensitive behavior and viscoelastic properties of the supramolecular assemblies.•The supramolecular structures exhibited good film-forming properties.

In this study, we synthesized a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) through the polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide in distilled water with azodiisobutyronitrile as the initiator and a bisadenine-functionalized poly(ethylene oxide) (A-PEO-A) from the reaction of adenine with a difunctionalized toluenesulfonyl-PEO. When blended together in distilled water, PNIPAm and A-PEO-A formed supramolecular aggregates stabilized through complementary multiple hydrogen bonds between the amide groups of PNIPAm and the adenine units of A-PEO-A. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and rheometry revealed the thermo-sensitive behavior and viscoelastic properties of the supramolecular assemblies.

Graphical abstractSupramolecular complexes of PNIPAm and A-PEO-A through complementary multiple hydrogen bonds between the amide groups of PNIPAm and the adenine units of A-PEO-A. Spherical micelles, large associated aggregates of spherical micelles, network structures, and toroid structures were all formed in aqueous solutions; these structures improved the thermo-sensitive behavior and viscoelastic properties of the supramolecular systems.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide