Towards Optimizing Synthesis Temperature for Microgels with Large Degree of Deswelling

Polysaccharide microgels have been synthesized at various temperatures (Tsyn) above the LCST of the parent polymer. Microgel structure and dynamics below and above the corresponding volume phase transition have been studied with light scattering. All microgels were found to undergo a reversible 15-50-fold deswelling in volume. However, the size distribution, structure, dynamics, and deswelling ability of microgels were found to strongly depend on synthesis temperature. In this work, the attempt was made to optimize the synthesis temperature to yield more monodisperse microgels with a larger degree of deswelling. The results suggest that Tsyn influences the density distribution of microgels and, therefore, their structure and dynamics.