Temperature-Responsive Polymers

Chapter 10Polarized Luminescence Studies of Nanosecond Dynamics of Thermosensitive Polymers in Aqueous Solutions

Vladimir D. Pautov Tatiana N. Nekrasova Tatiana D. Anan'eva and Ruslan Y. Smyslov

Institute of Macromolecular Compounds of Russian Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Luminescence, Relaxation and Electrical Properties of Polymer Systems, The Federal Agency for Science and Education, Saint‐Petersburg, 199004, Russia

10.1 Introduction

Structural transformations in macromolecules in solution occurring upon changing temperature, pH, ionic strength of a solution, and irradiation with visible light define a wide range of phenomena, which have both fundamental and applied value in various fields of biotechnology, medicine, physics, chemistry, and biology. “Smart” polymers attract continued interest of researchers due to the possibility of attuning conformational (and, therefore, functional) properties of these polymers by changing external conditions. These polymers are used as carriers for drug and DNA delivery to target tissues and organs, in manufacturing sensors, cosmetics, etc. [1–4]. Structurization in solutions of individual macromolecules (intramolecular transitions of the “coil–globule”, “coil–compact structure”, “coil–helix” types) or in multicomponent polymer systems (formation of interpolymer complexes, polymer–surfactant complexes, complexes between polymers and biologically active compounds, metal–polymer complexes) is caused by changes in intra‐ or intermolecular ...