title: Water-dispersed thermo-responsive boron nitride nanotubes: synthesis and properties.
abstract: In this study, water-dispersed thermo-responsive boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) were prepared in a simple two-step process, where on the first step oligoperoxide was grafted via the interaction of amino groups (defects) of BNNTs with pyromellitic chloroanhydride fragments in oligoperoxide molecules. The second step involves N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) graft polymerization 'from the surface' of oligoperoxide-functionalized BNNTs resulting in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) coating. The pristine and functionalized BNNTs were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. PNIPAM-functionalized BNNTs exhibit excellent dispersibility in water and possess thermo-responsive properties. The water-dispersion of thermo-responsive PNIPAM-functionalized BNNTs can help their potential use in biomedical applications as 'smart' surfaces, nanotransducers and nanocarriers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Yeditepe University, Atasehir, 34755 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Saban
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalay
authors.forename: Yurij
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Stetsyshyn
authors.forename: Volodymyr
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lobaz
authors.forename: Khrystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harhay
authors.forename: Halyna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohar
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Çulha