Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-acrylic acid) copolymer microgels for various applications: A review

Smart polymer microgels have been attracting a lot of attention due to their quick response to variation in environmental stimuli like temperature, pH, ionic strength, and presence of some biological molecules. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and its copolymer microgels have been synthesized and characterized for various applications in last 10 years. Synthesis, properties, and applications of poly(N-isopropylacryamide-co-acrylic acid) [P(NIPAM-AA)] copolymer microgels have been extensively reported in literature. This article describes synthesis, fundamental properties, and applications of P(NIPAM-AA) microgels in the field of medical science, environment, nanotechnology, catalysis, and photonics.