Thermoresponsive polymers constitute an important class of materials for biomedical application due to their thermally reversible coil-to-globule transition which can be exploited in a multitude of biomedical applications spanning from triggered drug delivery systems in the form of bulk hydrogels and nanoparticles, “smart” cell culture setups, sensors and actuators, and separation technologies. In this perspective article we present the basic physicochemical properties of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), which is the most widely studied thermoresponsive polymer with a lower critical solution temperature. We describe the basic thermodynamic and physicochemical parameters that affect the LCST and present selective applications that utilize thermoresponsive polymers in the form of nano-assemblies including micelles, polymersomes, microcapsules and microgels, as well as injectable hydrogels for biomedical applications.

热响应性聚合物由于其热可逆的盘绕-向球状转变而成为生物医学应用中的重要材料类别，可在众多生物医学应用中加以利用，包括触发的药物输送系统，其形式为散装水凝胶和纳米颗粒，“智能”细胞培养设置，传感器和执行器以及分离技术。在此透视文章中，我们介绍了聚（N-异丙基丙烯酰胺（PNIPAM），这是研究最广泛的具有较低临界溶液温度的热敏性聚合物。我们描述了影响LCST的基本热力学和理化参数，并介绍了利用热响应性聚合物以纳米组件形式存在的选择性应用，包括胶束，聚合物囊泡，微胶囊和微凝胶，以及用于生物医学应用的可注射水凝胶。