title: In-situ AFM studies of the phase-transition behavior of single thermoresponsive hydrogel particles.
abstract: The volume phase transition (VPT) behavior of individual thermally responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (pNIPAm-co-AAc) hydrogel microparticles was studied by in-situ dynamic mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) and force spectroscopy during heating and cooling cycles. Hydrogel samples were prepared by electrostatic immobilization of microparticles to amine-modified gold surfaces. The AFM studies of particle deswelling were performed by varying the force applied on the particles during imaging as a function of the geometry and material of the AFM probe. Aluminum-coated silicon cantilevers were found to influence substantially the behavior of the particles during the VPT, leading to a significant shape change. Low force impact magnetic excitation of the AFM probe (MAC mode) during dynamic mode measurements resulted in an undisturbed deswelling behavior enabling observation of the expected volume changes of the particles without significant tip-sample interaction. Hence, MAC-mode AFM was determined to be the most suitable technique for in-situ AFM studies on volume and shape changes at single hydrogel particles during VPT. Elasticity measurements performed at single particles at temperatures below and above the VPT revealed a 15-fold increase in the Young's modulus after passing the VPT, indicating the transition from a soft, swollen network to a stiffer, deswollen state.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0400, USA.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiedemair
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Serpe
authors.forename: Jongseong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jean-Francois
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Masson
authors.forename: L Andrew
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mizaikoff
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kranz
mesh_terms: D000178:Acrylamides / Q000737:chemistry*; D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D004548:Elasticity; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008863:Microspheres; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D000178:Acrylamides; D000179:Acrylates; D020100:Hydrogels; C090629:N-isopropylacrylamide-acrylic acid copolymer; D011108:Polymers; D006046:Gold