© 2026 Nanjing Finechem Holdings Co., Ltd,
All Right Reserved
N-Isopropylacrylamide first showed up in the experimental notes of organic chemists in the 1950s. Back then, it drew attention as scientists searched for organic compounds with unique phase changes. Serious research kicked up several gears with the birth of responsive polymer science in the 1980s. Those early polymer chemists saw that N-Isopropylacrylamide, or NIPAM as it’s usually called in research circles, did something unusual: mix it with water, raise the temperature, and suddenly it flips from soluble to insoluble. This “LCST”—that’s Lower Critical Solution Temperature—became a foundation for all kinds of smart gels and switchy soft materials, long before buzzwords like “smart materials” rolled off the tongues of trendy materials scientists. Ask anyone working on hydrogels today and they’ll mention NIPAM, since almost every big review in hydrogel literature traces roots back to it.
NIPAM itself is a small, clear solid that looks pretty ordinary on the bench. But it opens a door into temperature-sensitive polymer science. Drop it into a beaker of water with the right initiator and you get poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), or PNIPAM, which behaves in a way water chemists adore: at room temperature, it swells and soaks in water—raise the temperature past about 32ºC, and it squeezes the water out with a snap. Crafters of drug delivery capsules, researchers studying synthetic tissues, and water-treatment teams in industry all turn to this “magic trick” response. The future of wearable biosensors, smart wound dressings, and controlled-release fertilizers often pivots on whether someone in the supply chain figured out PNIPAM.
NIPAM’s melting point runs near 63 degrees Celsius—hot, but reachable with plain water bath equipment. It mixes snugly in organic solvents like ethanol or acetone. NIPAM’s crystalline solid form doesn’t stand up well to much heat, though: above 65 degrees, it starts decomposing and loses its punch. The chemical structure gives you the isopropyl group hanging from the amide, which makes the thermal flip possible. It’s enough of a chameleon to join dozens of different copolymerizations, opening variants that suit everything from medical gels to “smart” filters in water purification. Ask any polymer chemist about handling it, and they’ll mention its need to sit sealed and cool—moist air will make it clump or even trigger unwanted reactions.
Preparing NIPAM takes a careful hand. Synthesizing this compound demands direct reaction between acrylamide and isopropylamine, often with acid catalysis—watch out, since acrylamide by itself causes neuropathy if it gets loose, so even experienced chemists double up on gloves and hoods. Purification throws another wrench into the process, since NIPAM frequently needs repeated recrystallization to get polymer-grade purity. Commercial supplies usually coat the market in 100-gram or kilogram drums, and they come with thick binders of quality-control data. Running a scaleup in the lab isn’t usually worth the risk unless you have special reasons for controlling attributes; instead, most groups trust a reputable supplier. That said, improperly stored or aged reagent can sabotage an experiment in a heartbeat—fresh, dry, analytical-grade NIPAM tends to outperform whatever’s been sitting open on a shelf for months.
Most research chemists won’t stop with “plain” NIPAM. In the right hands, this molecule gets woven into dozens of copolymers and grafted networks. The acrylamide group remains reactive even after polymerization, letting surface chemists tack on fluorescent tags, cell-targeting peptides, or even nanoparticles. There’s a cottage industry in tailoring NIPAM-derived gels with mechanical, optical, or antimicrobial properties, since a skilled chemical engineer can steer the chain length, crosslink density, and hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance. Changing the basic setup often starts with swapping monomers or adding comonomers during the polymerization—acrylic acid and methyl methacrylate come up often. Some groups even go for “click” chemistry adaptations, grafting all manner of clickable moieties onto PNIPAM for biomedical projects. This flexibility lets NIPAM-based polymers push into medicine, agriculture, wastewater treatment, and soft robotics.
Read through research papers and you’ll spot this chemical hiding under a few different names: NIPAM, N-isopropylacrylamide, or sometimes simply 2-propenamide, N-(1-methylethyl)-. Old supply catalogues include mouthfuls like “acrylic acid, N-isopropylamide,” but most working scientists stick to NIPAM or PNIPAM unless a regulatory document twists their arm. Sometimes synonyms trip up a new grad student, but experienced researchers learn quickly where the abbreviations get used.
Years of working with NIPAM breeds caution. Lab stories about accidental dust inhalation remind everyone to use enclosed scoops and keep hoods running. The raw monomer irritates eyes and skin—people who skip gloves end up regretting it. Toxicity comes up in conversations about acrylamide-based compounds in food science, but current consensus pegs NIPAM’s main risks to workplace exposure during handling and not in finished, fully polymerized products. Nobody in research wants an Environmental Health and Safety report after a loose spill, so sealed containers, waste tracking, and solvent controls become routine. European regulations flag NIPAM under standard chemical-handling rules, with required labels about potential sensitization. U.S. labs often treat it with similar caution: risk assessed, PPE in place, standard training up front, especially when scaling up. Pouring a new batch means balancing chemical ambition with respect for what can go wrong.
Most people outside the lab never hear about NIPAM, but its polymer turns up in surprise places. Medical researchers depend on PNIPAM for drug carriers that drop their payload once inside the body’s warmth. Environmental scientists use smart membranes or “catch-and-release” sorbents that shift with a change in stream temperature. Soft robotics teams build thermal-actuated grippers and responsive sheets, mimicking biological tissues’ sensitivity to heat. PNIPAM hydrogels land in everything from wound seals to personal care cream thickeners. Farmers in tough climates look for controlled-release fertilizers where this chemistry keeps nutrients available at just the right time. Water treatment plants in tech-savvy cities experiment with NIPAM-based polymers for separating oil droplets or tuning filtration. This kind of versatility guarantees that NIPAM research doesn’t fade, since each new field pulls in a fresh set of challenges and ideas.
Grant agencies keep funding projects that push NIPAM-based materials a bit further each year. Biomedical teams develop injectable gels that match human tissue softness, using NIPAM to build scaffolds for growing nerves or blood vessels. Chemical engineers look for triggers besides temperature—like pH, light, or even specific ions—by blending NIPAM with other functional monomers. The race to build faster-responding, tougher, or more biocompatible hydrogels never slows. Sustainability stays front and center, since acrylamide-based materials raise questions about breakdown in landfills or waterways. Research into greener catalysts, bio-derived comonomers, recyclability, and eco-friendly synthesis piles up every year in the scientific literature. In the market, regulatory trends push supply chains to share more data about trace contaminants, particularly in healthcare projects. Keeping up with these shifts demands time and constant reading, but without this groundwork, applications can’t break into markets like medical devices or food contact materials.
Toxicology teams take NIPAM seriously. The main troubling area comes from unreacted acrylamide in the final polymer; acrylamide itself is a known neurotoxin and a probable human carcinogen, so every manufacturer and researcher watches out for incomplete polymerization or low-purity batches. So far, studies point to little migration of NIPAM monomer from well-made hydrogels, keeping medical and food applications viable when strict controls exist. Long-term breakdown of these polymers in soil or water still gets less attention than it probably deserves. Regulators increasingly ask for testing on degradation products, especially for anything deployed outside a controlled setting. Every year brings a slew of new papers studying hydrogel fragments in aquatic environments. Responsible labs set strict protocols for shipping, disposal, and exposure minimization. The lesson: invest in good supply chains, rigorous purification, and plenty of staff training, or risk running into trouble down the line.
NIPAM sits close to the center of the next generation of smart materials. Every twist in medical robotics, “living” soft devices, or climate-resilient agriculture seems to circle back to the properties of this compound and its polymers. The ongoing push for green chemistry prompts creative thinking in synthesis and disposal. New blends for 3D printing, programmable tissue culture, or self-healing coatings come out of the pipeline every year. My own time in research labs showed how a supply bottle of NIPAM launches a dozen new ideas—and feeds graduate student projects for years. With careful attention to handling, thoughtful product design, and constant investment in understanding both toxicity and degradation, NIPAM-based materials carry strong promise for fields we haven’t even imagined yet. Smart hydrogels may become as common as slide rules once were for engineers, turning a compound invented decades ago into a common thread through tomorrow’s technology.
N-Isopropylacrylamide doesn’t roll off the tongue. If you’ve checked the label of certain advanced laboratory supplies or high-tech research materials, you might find this name tucked among the fine print. I first ran across it during college, deep in the chemistry storeroom, where researchers whispered about “NIPAAm” as if it were some sort of secret sauce for materials science. Its full utility only unfolded after hearing graduate students talk about it as if it were magic.
N-isopropylacrylamide’s biggest claim to fame comes from its ability to change based on temperature. This trait opens the door for it to join the world of “smart” polymers—materials that actually react to what’s going on around them. Stir it in water and keep things chilly, it likes to stay dissolved. Warm things up, it bunches together. This temperature-flip turns it into an essential tool for chemists and engineers searching for materials that do more than just sit around.
Researchers beat a path to its door for this thermoresponsive behavior. Drug delivery gets a boost when someone can create medical materials that release medicine only at body temperature. That’s a big leap from medicines that simply flood the whole system. Biomedical engineers often turn to this polymer when searching for better ways of releasing chemotherapy right where it counts. It also becomes a favorite in tissue engineering, where scientists need scaffolds that mimic body tissues and respond to a patient’s natural rhythms.
Step beyond the white coats—N-isopropylacrylamide has uses outside the research lab. Water purification processes hit pay dirt with it. Once polymerized, it can help pick up unwanted particles or heavy metals from drinking water. That means cleaner water, which matters for people in both sprawling cities and remote towns.
Printing technology also benefits. Inkjet inks can make sharper prints when they contain polymers that react to temperature—N-isopropylacrylamide stands out as a go-to ingredient for those looking to make pictures crisper and colors richer. I once met a print technician who swore by certain “smart” ink, hinting at some material inside that responded to heat on the fly. Chances are, this was the quiet work of N-isopropylacrylamide.
Working with any advanced chemical comes with its own set of headaches. The fact is, not every country regulates its use in the same way, and disposal methods can lag behind the science. N-isopropylacrylamide itself needs careful handling to keep it out of soil and waterways. I remember a fellow chemist mentioning the extra steps taken in their lab to prevent accidental release: strict protocols, plenty of training, more paperwork than most people want to handle.
Researchers and companies can push for better oversight and safer alternatives. Keeping chemicals in check and developing biodegradable versions can shrink risks and let more people benefit from smarter materials.
Science never sits still. The more people learn about thermoresponsive polymers, the more uses they dream up for N-isopropylacrylamide. Transparency in production, open research on long-term outcomes, and broader education help everyone benefit from its promise while tackling worries about health and safety. If we keep that curiosity paired with responsibility, innovations like this polymer will keep opening doors.
Toss the jargon aside—nobody wants to risk their skin or lungs over a chemical mishap. Those working in research labs, classrooms, or small-scale manufacturing often meet N-Isopropylacrylamide on the job. It’s useful stuff, but it should never turn routine into reckless. Anytime a chemical like this gets handled, experience quickly reminds you that safety isn’t a box-ticking exercise. It’s a promise to coworkers and yourself.
N-Isopropylacrylamide may look like innocent white powder, but its dust can cause lung irritation and skin sensitivity. Splash some in your eyes, and you’ll remember that lesson for years. In college, I watched a classmate forget goggles and pay the price. Those seconds spent flushing their eyes at the eyewash felt endless.
Preparation saves both time and trips to the doctor. Begin every task by reviewing the Safety Data Sheet. It gives plain-language info most forget, such as how much ventilation you’ll need and what gloves work best. Fact: nitrile gloves keep N-Isopropylacrylamide off your skin. Cotton or latex won’t.
Lab coats, goggles, and nitrile gloves form the holy trinity for chemical handling. Splashes bounce off lab coats; goggles keep irritants out of your eyes; gloves protect the skin on your hands. Staying safe means keeping these on—start to finish. I once watched a researcher skip the gloves, thinking the powder seemed harmless. It left their hands red and aching for days.
It’s easy to underestimate proper ventilation. Fans and fume hoods aren’t overkill, they’re frontline defense. Even opening a jar can send small particles into the air. A decade in the lab taught me: if your nose picks up a whiff of anything odd, the job needs better airflow. Nobody wants headaches or a cough lingering through the week. When in doubt, work in the hood.
Putting chemicals back on the shelf is an act of care. N-Isopropylacrylamide stays stable in cool, dry places. Humid basements or sun-soaked windows mess with its shelf life and raise risk. I’ve seen forgotten bottles crusted with who-knows-what after a summer in a damp storage closet. Label every container with dates, hazard symbols, and your name, so future users know exactly what they’re handling.
Someone who knows what to do in an accident keeps everyone safer. Fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and eyewash stations aren’t just decorations. Regular drills and quick run-throughs build muscle memory. In my early days, I shrugged off drills as a waste. The day the fire alarm wailed, I stopped laughing and got serious. Proper training doesn’t just save products, it can save lives.
True safety builds momentum through trust and habit. When colleagues look out for each other—pointing out an open lid or forgetful hand—mistakes get caught early. If you see a shortcut, call it out. Better awkward honesty now than regret later. Set the pace. If you treat chemical safety like an afterthought, others will too.
Every step—protective gear, careful storage, strong ventilation, and open communication—builds a layer of security. It’s not complicated science; it’s respect for what can go wrong when you’re in a hurry or distracted. Handling N-Isopropylacrylamide safely is everybody’s business, every time.
Anyone who has worked in a chemistry lab knows the importance of getting storage right. N-Isopropylacrylamide, with its white, crystalline look, gives off a mild odor and doesn’t seem very threatening on the shelf. Still, don’t let that fool you. This chemical can give you trouble if it sits in the wrong place or at the wrong temperature. Why does it matter? If things go wrong, you may end up with a ruined batch, safety risks, wasted money, and never-ending headaches with regulatory paperwork.
Routine matters a lot. This chemical stays happiest at a cool, steady temperature—ideally between 2°C and 8°C (that’s a standard fridge, not the deep freezer). If you leave it at room temperature, especially during a summer heat wave, it starts to degrade. No one wants to lose time or money because of carelessness. Humidity brings its own problems. I’ve seen folks store their bottle with loose caps in humid labs; clumping, caking, or color changes creep in before too long. Keeping containers tightly sealed, with a desiccant nearby, helps avoid that. Moisture exposure can shorten shelf life and lead to unpredictable results, making reproducibility in experiments tough—just ask any frustrated grad student trying to repeat a previous year’s work.
Original packaging often works fine. Manufacturers usually choose materials that hold up to the product. Glass with screw tops or plastic bottles (polyethylene or polypropylene) keep light and air out. If you transfer the chemical, mark the new container clearly with date, concentration, and any hazards. This isn’t just about meeting regulations. If you’re swapping jobs, nobody wants to play guessing games with mystery powders on the shelf.
N-Isopropylacrylamide, like many organics, doesn’t appreciate sunlight. Direct light can start subtle changes or even make it polymerize, which ruins everything. Store it in a shaded cupboard or dark storage box. I keep mine at the back of the fridge in a plastic container, away from diagnostics strips or solvents. Smaller, frequent-use bottles help avoid breaking the refrigerated chain whenever someone needs a handful of powder for testing.
Many accidents stem from a rush or a shortcut. The chemical has a low toxicity, but one shouldn’t get careless. Always wear gloves, avoid dust clouds, and use goggles when handling. Keep it away from acids, bases, peroxides, and strong oxidizers—otherwise, those bottles might spit or degrade.
Documenting storage conditions and replacing expired stock isn’t just about rules. Over the years, tracking batches and noting any signs of yellowing or caking has helped me spot issues before they caused real trouble. Good practice brings peace of mind, making sure research keeps moving and everyone stays safe.
N-Isopropylacrylamide, often written as NIPAAm, weighs in at a molecular weight of 113.16 grams per mole. At first glance, this value might seem like a simple stat you’d look up and forget. For anyone who has ever set foot in a chemistry lab or worked in polymer science, though, that number means a lot more. It influences how researchers design experiments and how different materials function in real life.
Anyone who’s dissolved this compound in water knows the measurements aren’t just numbers in a book. Imagine measuring out powder in an old, noisy balance room. That 113.16 grams per mole figure turns from an abstract value into pipettes, solutions, and whiteboard calculations, especially for folks making poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels. If someone gets that number wrong, nothing seems to work as planned. Polymerization runs off the rails, cross-linking stumbles, and trying to match published results gets tough. Years of lab work make you double-check the weight, count out the decimal points, and sometimes wake up in the middle of the night remembering to recalculate an old experiment.
This compound has gained real popularity thanks to its use in temperature-sensitive hydrogels. Hydrogels have carved out important spots in biomedical research, including drug delivery, tissue engineering, and cell culture substrates. The molecular weight of N-isopropylacrylamide drives everything from molar ratios in chemical reactions to the swelling behavior of gels that rely on temperature-induced phase transitions.
Miscalculations lead to huge setbacks. A slight error in the molecular weight can cycle through every experiment and create misleading results, even for groups making something as basic as a copolymer. I once saw half a summer's work get tossed out because someone used an old, incorrect value. Costs go beyond lost time. Misreported numbers waste resources and slow down discovery. Reproducibility, which stirs up debates in research right now, hinges on getting these figures straight.
Reliable data sources help avoid mistakes. Reputable organizations — like Sigma-Aldrich, PubChem, and Merck Index — publish consistent molecular weights. That consensus gives labs confidence to move forward with new projects, knowing everyone’s playing on the same field. NIPAAm’s 113.16 g/mol repeatedly checks out. Double-checking with safety sheets and the newest literature keeps things current, especially with changes to databases over time.
Efforts to prevent mole-to-gram slip-ups in research go beyond lectures. Direct, hands-on mentorship molds careful chemists. Sharing stories about the time a project skidded off track because someone fudged a calculation teaches better than dry policies. Lab notebooks showing where and how data were sourced keep everyone on the same page, helping new students recognize where molecular weights come from and why they set the stage for everything else that follows.
Staying vigilant with details like molecular weights forms the backbone of trustworthy science. Open conversations, active mentorship, and shared vigilance help reinforce trust in experimental results. In a field where one small error can ripple through months of work, sticking to reliable figures like N-isopropylacrylamide’s 113.16 g/mol keeps progress on solid ground. The tools, textbooks, and team stories all aim at keeping the simple things right — because even seasoned scientists know that accuracy at this level shapes success or failure.
N-Isopropylacrylamide sparks a lot of interest among chemists and researchers thanks to its unique solubility behavior. Anyone who’s worked in a research lab or dabbled in polymer science notices fast that not every monomer behaves the same way when it meets water. A lot of folks have asked whether N-Isopropylacrylamide dissolves in water. The short answer is yes, it is soluble, but there’s more to the story.
This compound has a knack for interacting with water molecules through hydrogen bonding. Its structure — featuring an amide group and an isopropyl group — allows it to slip into an aqueous solution easily at room temperature. Drop some N-Isopropylacrylamide into a beaker of water, give it a stir, and it'll form a clear solution up to a certain concentration.
Temperature, though, changes everything. I remember running classroom experiments in grad school right where this behavior comes alive. At lower temperatures, N-Isopropylacrylamide keeps mixing with water like sugar in tea. Once the temperature rises past about 32°C (the “lower critical solution temperature” or LCST), the solution begins to turn cloudy. That's no accident. The polymer chain that forms from this monomer becomes less water-loving above this temperature, causing it to separate out. Watching it happen under the microscope or in a flask never gets old. It marks a real-life example of how small changes can flip chemical behavior on its head.
Many studies and technical datasheets back this up. For example, researchers use its solubility for “smart hydrogels” that respond to temperature. The number keeps popping up: below LCST, soluble; above LCST, insoluble.
In labs and manufacturing, knowing whether a material dissolves is a must. This knowledge affects everything, from making hydrogels for medical devices to drug delivery systems. I’ve worked with students who wondered why their hydrogel seemed to vanish at colder temps but reappeared as a floating gel at body temperature. The answer circled right back to this compound's relationship with water.
For people working in biomedicine, solubility unlocks the doors to controlled release systems. Think of a wound dressing that delivers medicine only right when skin heats up. That’s no small breakthrough. It can boost comfort, treatment effectiveness, and potentially lower doses.
Handling chemicals safely always matters. While N-Isopropylacrylamide opens many doors, it’s crucial to consider possible irritant effects on the skin or lungs. Proper gloves and protective eyewear remain the gold standard. Reading the safety data sheet, storing it in a cool, dry place, and working in a ventilated area set up the groundwork for safe and smart handling.
The field keeps finding fresh uses for N-Isopropylacrylamide’s temp-responsive behavior. There’s still room for better polymers that dissolve over a wider temperature range or that break down naturally after use. As research keeps pushing, students and professionals alike benefit from staying curious and questioning where and how solubility fits into the bigger picture of innovation and everyday life.
References:| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | 2-methyl-N-propan-2-ylpropanamide |
| Other names |
2-Propenamide, N-(1-methylethyl)- NIPA NIPAM N-Isopropyl-2-propenamide N-(1-Methylethyl)acrylamide |
| Pronunciation | /ˌɛn-aɪ-saɪˌprəʊpɪl-əˈkrɪləmɑːɪd/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 2210-25-5 |
| 3D model (JSmol) | `3D model (JSmol)` string for **N-Isopropylacrylamide**: ``` CC(C)NC(=O)C=C ``` |
| Beilstein Reference | 127873 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:51679 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1235206 |
| ChemSpider | 54454 |
| DrugBank | DB04348 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 03c3b8f9-7c9a-40b4-b142-9fdfa1d27be3 |
| EC Number | 202-816-7 |
| Gmelin Reference | 71578 |
| KEGG | C06598 |
| MeSH | D015473 |
| PubChem CID | 69973 |
| RTECS number | UF6100000 |
| UNII | I4FD83G79M |
| UN number | UN2467 |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | DTXSID2022977 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C6H11NO |
| Molar mass | 113.16 g/mol |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 0.965 g/mL at 25 °C |
| Solubility in water | Soluble |
| log P | 0.3 |
| Vapor pressure | 0.053 mmHg (25 °C) |
| Acidity (pKa) | 15.5 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 8.42 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -8.05 × 10⁻⁶ cm³/mol |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.490 |
| Viscosity | 1.3 cP (20 °C) |
| Dipole moment | 1.77 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 216.6 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -117.7 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -3244 kJ/mol |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS07 |
| Pictograms | GHS07 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H302, H315, H319, H335 |
| Precautionary statements | P261, P280, P305+P351+P338, P337+P313 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 2-2-2 |
| Flash point | 85 °C (closed cup) |
| Autoignition temperature | 460 °C (860 °F; 733 K) |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 oral rat 2,500 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): >5000 mg/kg (rat, oral) |
| NIOSH | RP2300000 |
| PEL (Permissible) | Not established |
| REL (Recommended) | REL not established |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | No IDLH established |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Acrylamide N,N-Dimethylacrylamide N,N-Diethylacrylamide N-tert-Butylacrylamide N-Phenylacrylamide N-Isobutylacrylamide |
