pH-responsive smart polymeric materials

Polymer systems which undergo changes in volume with change in temperature, solvent or any other external stimuli find application in medicine, biotechnology and Industry. The changes which are observed are reversible and do not show any hesterisis over number of times, the experiments are repeated. The pH of systems are important in biochemical reactions and in industrial chemical reactions. Polymeric intelligent systems that can show a change in light transmission over a wide pH range can be devised to develop light induced switches to monitor the program of reaction, addition of ingredients and also control other related factors such as temperature. Such close control chemical reactions are often desired where addition/substitution of ingredients in responsible for one type of spatial order.