Effect of crosslinker functionality on swelling and network parameters of copolymeric hydrogels

Crosslinked xerogels comprising N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (VP) and butyl acrylate (BA) with different weight fractions of BA ranging between 0.1 and 0.3 were prepared by γ-ray initiation copolymerization using different concentrations of either hexa- or tetrafunctional crosslinking agents. Methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) was selected as tetrafunctional crosslinker, while 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TPT) was used as a hexafunctional crosslinker. The concentration of both crosslinkers ranged between 0.5% and 2%. Thin disks of the prepared copolymers were swollen in deionized water at 294 K. The final equilibrium water content, volume fraction of polymer and swelling capacity were determined. The effective crosslinking density V_e, the average molecular weight between the crosslinks M_c and the polymer–water interaction parameter were determined from stress–strain measurements. For different compositions of VP/BA, the linear relations between theoretical crosslinking densities V_t and V_e were established. The efficiencies of MBA and TPT crosslinking agents towards VP–BA copolymers were determined. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling of absorption kinetics of poly(acrylamide) hydrogels crosslinked by EGDMA and PEGDMAs

In this study, acrylamide-based hydrogels are synthesized by free radical solution polymerization in aqueous solution using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and its derivative polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) with different molecular weights as crosslinkers in the solution medium. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy technique is used for the structural characterization of the hydrogels. Dynamic swelling tests are conducted on acrylamide-based hydrogels for the determination of the swelling characteristics with respect to different crosslinking concentrations at room temperature. The parameters of swelling kinetics and diffusion mechanisms of the hydrogels are calculated with the aid of the data obtained. Accordingly, PEGDMA and EGDMA absorption capacity is found to increase with increasing concentrations. The lowest and highest water absorption capacities in PEGDMA₈₁₀ and EGDMA crosslinked hydrogels are 22.73–48.39 and 10.15–16.02 g/g, respectively. Water intake of hydrogels crosslinked by EGDMA and PEGDMAs followed Fickian nature type diffusion except for PEGDM₈₁₀, which has a swelling exponent greater than 0.5 and so does not follow a Fickian type of diffusion. PEGDM₈₁₀ showed the fastest diffusion rate of between 5.87 × 10^?4 and 10.87 × 10^?4 cm² s^?1.     

Application of New Modified Poly(ethylene Oxide)-Block-Poly(propylene oxide)-Block-Poly(ethylene oxide) Copolymers as Demulsifier for Petroleum Crude Oil Emulsion

Water soluble nonionic amphiphilic block copolymers based on hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydrophobic poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) were prepared. Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers, PEG-PPG-PEG, were prepared in the normal condition. The chemical composition and molecular weights of the prepared copolymers were determined from ¹H NMR and GPC techniques. The surface properties of the prepared surfactants were determined by measuring the surface tension at different temperatures. The prepared nonionic surfactants were evaluated as demulsifiers for water in crude-oil emulsions that were pronounced at different ratios of crude oil: water at 318 K and 333 K. The experimental results showed that the dehydration rate of the prepared demulsifiers reached 100% based on demulsifier chemical compositions and concentrations.     

Thermoresponsive hyperbranched polymers via In Situ RAFT copolymerization of peg‐based monomethacrylate and dimethacrylate monomers

Here we report the preparation of PEG‐based thermoresponsive hyperbranched polymers via a facile in situ reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerization using bis(thiobenzoyl) disulphide to form 2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate in situ. This novel one‐pot in situ RAFT approach was studied firstly using methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer, then was used to prepare thermoresponsive hyperbranched polymers by copolymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEMA, M_n = 475), poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate (PPGMA, M_n = 375) and up to 30 % of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the branching agent. The resultant PEGMEMA‐PPGMA‐EGDMA copolymers from in situ RAFT were characterized by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and ¹H‐NMR analysis. The results confirmed the copolymers with multiple methacrylate groups and hyperbranched structure as well as RAFT functional residues. These water‐soluble copolymers with tailored compositions demonstrated tuneable lower critical solution temperature (LCST) from 22 °C to 32 °C. The phase transition temperature can be further altered by post functionalization via aminolysis of RAFT agent residues in polymer chains. Moreover, it was demonstrated by rheological studies and particle size measurements that these copolymers can form either micro‐ or macro photocrosslinked gels at suitable concentrations due to the presence of multiple methacrylate groups. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3751–3761     

Synthesis and modification of supports with an alkylamine and their use in albumin adsorption

The morphological effect of polymeric networks (R) modified with terminal amino groups was studied on the adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Networks of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate [poly (EGDMA‐co‐HEMA)] were synthesized by suspension polymerization, using different EGDMA contents and agitation speeds. These matrices were characterized by FTIR, mercury intrusion porosimetry, SEM, and swelling degree. The increase of the EGDMA concentration led to the formation of networks with the highest crosslinking degree and porosity. An earlier phase separation yielded a higher aggregation of rigid microspheres, also forming stable pore systems. The increase in coalescence frequency, together with the impeller speed, and the decrease of the stabilizer molecules led to an increment in drop size. Large fused aggregates of microspheres were formed with additional loss of small pores as the stirring was increased, attaining also a higher pore volume (V_p) and a slight decrease of the surface area. Once characterized, networks were activated with butanediolglycidyl ether (BDGE), and then reacted with hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) through coupling reaction. Only the R‐BDGE‐HMDA networks synthesized with the highest EGDMA content and agitation speed showed BSA adsorption. Their base matrices exhibited a V_p higher than 1.4 mL/g, which allows easier protein diffusion into the support. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2557–2566, 2008     

Swelling behaviors of polyelectrolyte hydrogels containing sulfonate groups

Series of maleate monoester and diester monomers based on poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (MPEG) were copolymerized using the ionizable 2‐acrylamido‐2–methyl propane sulfonic acid (AMPS) via different dose rate of electron‐beam irradiation (40–150 kGy). The crosslinking of the copolymers were carried out in aqueous acidic solutions at pH 1 or in the presence of 1% N,N‐methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) as crosslinking agent. The final equilibrium water content and swelling capacities for the prepared hydrogels were determined in aqueous solutions at pH 1, 6.8, and 12 and in aqueous salt solutions at 298 K. Swelling equilibria for prepared hydrogels were determined in different molar salt solutions of NaCl, KCl, CaCl₂, Na₂SO₄, K₂SO₄, and CaSO₄. The swelling ratios of gels in pure water and in the salt solutions were found to depend on the counterion species in the increasing sequence of Ca²⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gel-state NMR investigation of crosslinked poly(methy1 methacrylate) incorporating 13C labeled ethylene glycol dimethacrylate

¹³C labeled ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) was used to form labeled crosslinked PMMA and model ¹³C labeled pendant double bond copolymers. Solution NMR was possible on solvent-swollen samples containing less than 0.5% by weight EGDMA. Spectra confirm significant amounts of singly reacted EGDMA in fully polymerized networks. Peaks arising from the two most likely stereochemical triads (syndi- and heterotactic) were identified but no evidence of cyclic species was observed. Labeled EGDMA allowed observation of the crosslink site at concentrations as low as 0.02 wt-% EGDMA.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrogels Based on Gamma Radiation Copolymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide and Ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate Monomers

Hydrogels based essentially on N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and different ratios of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) monomer were synthesized by gamma radiation copolymerization. The thermal decomposition behavior of NIPAAm/EGDMA hydrogels was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The effect of temperature and pH on the swelling behavior was also studied. The results showed that the ratio of EGDMA in the comonomer feeding solution has a great effect on the yield product, gel fraction and water content in the final hydrogel. In this regard, it was observed that the increase of EGDMA ratio decreased these properties. The TGA study showed that all the compositions of NIPAAm/EGDMA hydrogels displayed higher thermal stability than the hydrogel based on pure PNIPAAm hydrogel. The swelling kinetics in water showed that pure PNIPAAm and NIPAAm/EGDMA hydrogels reached equilibrium after 6 h. However, NIPAAm/EGDMA hydrogels show swelling in water lower than pure PNIPAAm. The results showed that the swelling character of pure PNIPAAm and NIPAAm/EGDMA hydrogels was affected by the change in temperature within the temperature range 25–40°C, and showed a reversible change in swelling in the pH range 4–7 depending on composition.     

Mechanistic studies on particle nucleation in the batch emulsion polymerisation of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> n</Emphasis>-butyl acrylate containing multifunctional monomers

This paper reports the mechanistic details concerning the synthesis of crosslinked poly(n-butyl acrylate) dispersions intended to be used as seeds in the preparation of core-shell emulsions. The influence of crosslinking comonomers and the amount and type of surfactants on the kinetics, particle nucleation, particle size and particle size distribution in the batch emulsion polymerisation of n-butyl acrylate (BA) is explored. In the case of EGDA (ethylene glycol diacrylate) crosslinker the particle number decreased with increasing crosslink density, whereas the opposite trend was observed in the case of m-diisopropenylbenzene (m-DIPB) in the presence and absence of the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The observed behaviour is mainly attributed to the variation in the aqueous phase kinetics caused by the water solubility of the comonomer, which influences the formation rate of precursor particles during the nucleation stage. Only for the less water soluble crosslinker, DIPB, could the increase of particle number be explained within the Smith–Ewart theory by assuming prolonged nucleation due to reduced swelling of growing particles with monomer as a result of the crosslinking reaction.Abbreviations EGDA ethylene glycol diacrylate - m-DIPB meta-diisopropenylbenzene - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - PBA poly(n-butyl acrylate) - AFFF asymmetric field flow fractionation - MALLS multiangle laser light scattering - CMC critical micelle concentration     

Synthesis and Swelling Behavior of Acrylate‐Based Hydrogels

The purpose of this investigation was to report the synthesis of a novel pH‐sensitive acrylate‐based hydrogel by polymerizing the comonomers 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate, HEMA, acrylic acid, AA, and sodium acrylate, NaAc. The NaAc component was obtained by neutralization of AA with sodium hydroxide. Hydrogels were obtained by free radical copolymerization in aqueous solution in the presence of redox initiators, Na₂S₂O₈/Na₂S₂O₅, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, EGDMA, crosslinker. The copolymers were synthesized by varying neutralization percent of AA in the range of 10–100. The swelling behavior of the copolymeric gels were investigated as a function of pH, temperature, ionic strength, and AA neutralization percent. The polymer mesh size, ξ, molecular weight between crosslinks, M_c , and crosslinking density, q, were determined by using the Flory‐Rehner equation in the pH range of 2–8 as 8.78–48.8 Å, 209–2667 g/mol, and 0.046–0.59, respectively. The diffusional exponent value, n, of the synthesized hydrogel was found to be 0.59, indicating a non‐Fickian diffusion mechanism. It can be concluded that the hydrogel demonstrated a sharp change in its water absorbency, mesh size and molecular weight between crosslinks of the network with a change in pH of the swelling media. The latter properties suggest strong consideration of these hydrogels for use as oral drug delivery systems and ion‐exchangers for removal of metal ions from aqueous media, owing to the carboxylate groups within the polymeric network.     

Temperature and pH sensitive ionic hydrogels based on new crosslinkers

New crosslinkers were synthesized from reaction of melamine with acryloyl and methacryloyl chloride in the presence of 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone as a solvent and triethyl amine as acid acceptor. The chemical structures of the prepared crosslinkers were elucidated from FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR and ¹³C‐NMR analyses. Linear 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propane sulfonic acid and methacrylic acid (AMPS/MAA) copolymers were prepared and their viscometric properties in aqueous solution were investigated. Different weight percentages of the prepared crosslinkers were used as crosslinking agent (AMPS/MAA) to prepare ionic copolymers using ammonium persulfate as initiator. The percentage of crosslinkers was varied from 0.5 to 4 wt%. The swelling behaviors of crosslinked AMPS/MAA gels in deionized water were measured at different pH and temperatures. All AMPS/MAA copolymers exhibit faster deswelling rate at 50°C except for the copolymer containing 0.9 (mol ratio) AMPS. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Effect of Copolymer Composition on Surface Free‐Energy of Poly(2‐Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate–Crotonic Acid) Copolymers

Abstract

Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate–crotonic acid) P(HEMA/CrA) copolymers with varying compositions were prepared from ternary mixtures of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)/crotonic acid (CrA)/water by using ⁶⁰Co γ‐rays. The wetting forces were determined according to the Wilhelmy Plate Technique. Di‐iodomethane, ethylene glycol, and formamide were used as probe liquids. Lifshitz–van der Waals surface energy components, Lewis acid–base surface components, and total surface energies were calculated using van Oss et al. methodology. It was determined that Lifshitz–van der Waals component (γ_S ^LW) of the copolymers did not differ much from the copolymer composition. However, the electron‐donor surface free energy components (γ_S ^?) of the copolymers were decreased considerably with the increase of the CrA content of the copolymers, the surfaces of these copolymers were still found to have a basic character.     

pH and temperature responsive hydrogels of poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid-co-methacrylic acid): Synthesis and swelling characteristics

Temperature and pH sensitive 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS) and methacrylic acid (MAA) homopolymer and copolymer hydrogels have been prepared using N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinkers. Swelling of these hydrogels has been studied in terms of monomer ratio, type and concentration of the crosslinkers and in various concentrations of mono, di and trivalent salt solutions. Though swelling of the EGDMA crosslinked poly(AMPS-co-MAA) hydrogels is found to be higher than those based on MBA crosslinker, strength of the latter system has been found to be better. Swelling behavior of these hydrogels in different salt solutions at different concentrations has shown a drop in swelling from monovalent to trivalent cations and also at higher salt concentrations. The results have indicated the possibilities of developing tailor made hydrogels combining optimum swelling with better strength characteristics that will suit different physiological and biological environments.     

Adsorption of cinnabarinic acid from culture fluid with magnetic microbeads

In this study, antimicrobial pigment cinnabarinic acid (CA) was produced from Pycnoporus cinnabarinus in laboratory‐scale batch cultures. Magnetic poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate‐N‐methacryloyl‐l‐tryptophan methyl ester) [m‐poly(EGDMA‐MATrp)] beads (average diameter = 53–103 µm) were synthesized by copolymerizing of N‐methacryloyl‐l‐tryptophan methyl ester (MATrp) with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) in the presence of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and used for the adsorption of CA. The m‐poly(EGDMA‐MATrp) beads were characterized by N₂ adsorption/desorption isotherms (Brunauer Emmet Teller), X‐ray photoelecron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, electron spin resonance and swelling studies. The efficiency of m‐poly(EGDMA‐MATrp) beads for separation of CA from culture fluid was evaluated. The effects of pH, initial concentration, contact time and temperature on adsorption were analyzed. The maximum CA adsorption capacity of the m‐poly(EGDMA‐MATrp) beads was 272.9 mg g⁻¹ at pH 7.0, 25 °C. All the isotherm data can be fitted with the Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm models. The adsorption process obeyed pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model. Thermodynamic parameters ΔH = 5.056 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔS = 52.44 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ and ΔG = −9.424 kJ mol−¹ to ‐11.27 kJ mol−¹ with the rise in temperature from 4 to 40 °C indicated that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

以双甲基丙烯酸乙二醇酯类为交联剂的丙烯酸β-羟乙酯类水凝胶中水的拉曼光谱学研究

水凝胶是轻度交联的高分子网络 ,其内含有大量的水 ,高分子交联网络与水之间的相互作用决定着水凝胶的物理化学性质[1 ,2 ] .Ｇｒｅｅｎ等[3] 在研究激光下水在 2 50 0～40 0 0ｃｍ- 1 范围内的拉曼平行谱带和垂直谱带时发现 ,水在此波数范围内的拉曼光谱低波数分量是高度偏振化的 ,即低波数分量只有平行分量 ,而没有垂直分量 .由此提出了下式所表示的聚集谱带 (Ｃｏｌｌｅｃｔｉｖｅｂａｎｄ)Ｉｃ(ω)的概念 :Ｉｃ(ω) =Ｉ∥ (ω) -ａＩ⊥ (ω)其中ａ为利用从 350 0ｃｍ- 1 到 3750ｃｍ- 1 的高频区数据使得Ｉ′∥(ω) -ａＩ′⊥(ω)的平方…     

Preparation of high oxygen permeable transparent hybrid copolymers with silicone macro-monomers

In this study, high oxygen permeable transparent hybrid copolymers were prepared with hydrophilic monomer such as 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) or N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) and mono- or difunctional silicone macro-monomer introduced methacryl groups. In HEMA-based hybrid copolymers, difunctional silicone macro-monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as cross-linker were required in order to prepare transparent hybrid materials, while high transparent DMAA-based hybrid copolymers could be prepared without EGDMA cross-linker. The polymerization kinetics investigation revealed that this difference between HEMA and DMAA in preparation condition to transparent hybrid material originated to monomer reactivity in copolymerization and DMAA showed high reactivity compared with HEMA. Moreover, DMAA-based hybrid copolymers indicated high water content and high oxygen permeability as against HEMA-based hybrid copolymers because of its low cross-linking density.     

Design of EGDMA‐Crosslinked Theophylline Imprinted Polymer with High Specificity and Selectivity

An attempt has been made to design theophylline selective polymers with maximum selectivity and specificity, and to relate the rebinding capacity of the polymers with the degree of crosslinking, as well as with the template‐monomer ratio. The theophylline imprinted and non‐imprinted polymers based on methacrylic acid as the functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinking agent (35–80 mol%) were prepared. The developed imprinted polymers were characterized by FT‐IR, ¹H and ¹³C‐NMR spectra. Equilibrium binding of theophylline by the imprinted and non‐imprinted polymers were investigated and optimized the conditions. Imprinted polymers showed specific binding of the template theophylline. Selectivity of the imprinted polymers was investigated towards caffeine and nicotine. Imprinted polymers showed specific and selective binding of theophylline, which varied with the degree of EGDMA crosslinking. Equilibrium rebinding experiments proved that imprinted polymer with moderate (70%) crosslinking with 1∶2 template‐functional monomer ratio is ideal with maximum specificity and selectivity.     

Synthesis of thermosensitive guar‐based hydrogels with tunable physico‐chemical properties by click chemistry

Thermosensitive guar‐based hydrogels are obtained in water solutions by copper‐catalyzed 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition between alkyne‐functionalized guars and α,ω‐diazido‐poly[(ethylene glycol)‐co‐(propylene glycol)]. Characterization by TGA, HR‐MAS ¹H NMR, and rheology have shown that hydrogels with tunable physico‐chemical properties, such as crosslinking density, viscoelasticity, swelling ratio, and so forth, could be obtained by varying the guar molar mass, the degree of alkyne functionality, the guar/crosslinker weight ratio, and the reaction temperature. Based on swelling measurements, it has been shown that the thermal sensitiveness of guar‐based hydrogels is fast, reversible, and intimately related to the weight fraction of the thermosensitive crosslinker in the network. Finally, the monitoring of doxorubicin hydrochloride release has demonstrated the potential of these hydrogels as temperature‐dependent drug release devices. The robust, efficient, and orthogonal approach described herein represents a general approach towards the development of well‐controlled guar‐based hydrogels using α,ω‐diazido crosslinkers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2733–2742, 2010     

Poly(ethylene glycol)‐based amphiphilic model conetworks: Synthesis by RAFT polymerization and characterization

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐containing quasi‐model amphiphilic polymer conetworks (APCNs) were prepared by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using α,ω‐bis(2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate)‐PEG as a bifunctional RAFT macrochain transfer agent (macro‐CTA) and stepwise additions of a hydrophobic monomer and a crosslinker (crosslinker: macro‐CTA = 10:1, reaction time 24 h). Three different types of monomers, methyl methacrylate (MMA), n‐butyl acrylate and styrene, were employed as the hydrophobic monomers, whereas ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, ethylene glycol diacrylate and 1,4‐divinylbenzene served as the respective crosslinkers. PEG homopolymer hydrophilic quasi‐model networks were also prepared by RAFT‐polymerizing the three crosslinkers directly onto the two active ends of the PEG‐based macro‐CTA. From the three ABA triblock copolymers prepared, the MMA‐containing one was obtained at the highest polymerization yields. The crosslinking yields of the three ABA triblock copolymers with the corresponding crosslinkers were higher than those of the PEG‐based macro‐CTA with the same crosslinkers. The degrees of swelling (DSs) of all conetworks were measured in water and in tetrahydrofuran (THF). The DSs of the APCNs in THF were higher than those in water, whereas the reverse was true for the DSs of the hydrophilic homopolymer networks. Finally, the aqueous DSs of the APCNs were lower than those of the corresponding hydrophilic homopolymer networks. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7556–7565, 2008     

Synthesis and characterization of polyurethane-g-chitosan

The present work presents a study on the grafting of polyurethane onto chitosan. Prepolymers (polyurethanes) were obtained by condensation reactions between poly(ethylene glycol) of two different molar masses and isophorone diisocyanate. Characterization of graft copolymers was performed by infrared spectroscopy (IR) and ¹³C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance in the solid state (¹³C NMR). Evidences of grafting were obtained by IR from the absorbance increase of relative intensity of NH and CO bands, with respect to chitosan. The degree of NH₂ substitution by urea groups observed from 0.12 to 0.59 was estimated from NMR data. The graft copolymers exhibited different solubility behavior as a function of degree of substitution, such as partial solubility, gelation or swelling in diluted acetic acid, and swelling in water, dimethylsulfoxide and acetic acid/sodium acetate.