A series of homopolymers and copolymers

based on 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate (MEO2MA) and tertbutyl acrylate (tBA)

were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using CuBr/(N

N

N'

N

N-Pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) (PMDETA) as a catalyst system and 2-bromo ethyl isobutyrate (EBiB) as an initiator in a first step.The homopolymer of MEO2MA exhibited the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at around 28℃.In a second step

the tert-butyl groups of tBA were hydrolysed with trifluoroacetic acid to form the corresponging block copolymers of MEO2MA and acrylic acid (AA) (PMEO2MA-b-PAA)

which exhibited both temperature and pH responsive behaviour.Transmittance (500 nm) measurements were used to obtain the cloud point (CP) of PMEO2MA and PMEO2MA-b-PAA.The CP of PMEO2MA-b-PAA aqueous solution (1 mg/mL) was raised from 26.0℃ to 31.1℃

when the pH value of solutions was increased from 2 to 12.At 28℃

the transformation pH value of PMEO2MA-b-PAA aqueous solutions (1 mg/mL) was around 6.When the concentration increased

the CP decreased.Stimulus-responsive polymer modified silk was obtained through condensation reaction between the amino groups on silk surface and the carboxyl groups of PMEO2MA-b-PAA.Contact angle and moisture regain measurements indicated that the modified silk exhibited both temperature and pH-responsive behaviour.When the pH value of modified silk surface is 2

the conformation of modified silk changed at around 28℃.When the pH value is 6

the transition temperature increased to about 32℃.Smart silk textiles with temperature and pH responsive behaviour could be obtained by a simple and costless process.