molecular weights of the P3HT6S polymer and soluble fraction of P(NIPAm-co-NIPMAm) and P(NIPAm-co-NIPMAm)/P3HT6S
hydrogels were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC).
THF solutions were applied to a Linear Instruments UVIS-200 apparatus
operating at 254 nm and equipped with a Phenomenex mixed bed column
5 μ MXL type. The GPC calibration curve was recorded using monodisperse
polystyrene standards.
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
was used to determine the characteristic temperatures of the P(NIPAm-co-NIPMAm) and P(NIPAm-co-NIPMAm)/P3HT6S
hydrogels. DSC measurements were obtained using a Perkin Elmer PYRIS-1
instrument. The analysis of hydrated samples was performed in a heating
mode starting from 20 to 50 °C following a rate of 2 °/min,
with an isothermal stop for 1 min. DSC analysis of freeze-dried samples
was performed in the 0–250 °C range with a rate of 10
°/min.
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed using
a Q5000 (TA
Instruments) instrument under a nitrogen atmosphere. Thermogravimetric
measurements were carried out in the temperature range of 20–700
°C to analyze the P3HT6S polymer as well as P(NIPAm-co-NIPMAm) and P(NIPAm-co-NIPMAm)/P3HT6S hydrogels
having a mass of about 2.7–3.7 mg. TGA data were analyzed using
TA Universal Analysis software. All measurements were performed at
a constant heating rate of 20 °C/min.