Thermoresponsive behavior of block copolymers of PEO and PNIPAm with different architecture in aqueous solutions: A study by NMR, FTIR, DSC and quantum-chemical calculations

•We studied thermoresponsive block copolymers PEO-b-PNIPAm and PEO-b-(PNIPAm)2 in D2O.•We used a combination of NMR, FTIR, DSC and quantum-chemical calculations.•Thermoresponsive behavior is affected by the PEO block and copolymer architecture.•A portion of water bound in copolymer micellar cores was established by NMR and FTIR.•Dehydration of PNIPAm segments is higher in block copolymers than in homopolymer.