Figure 4.
Gelation of pNIPMAm-BAC-BIS particles. Sedimented particles with intra-particle disulfides form a dense pellet, yet retain fluidity (left). Reduction by DTT leads to the production of thiol-bearing particles, a reduction in pellet density, and the retention of particle fluidity (center). Oxidation by NaIO4 restores pellet density, but the resulting solid is a double-network of microgels cross-linked by interparticle disulfides (right).