羧甲基纤维素钠/聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)纳米复合水凝胶的制备及结构性能表征

以无机粘土为交联剂制备了具有温度、pH双重敏感特性的羧甲基纤维素钠/聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)/粘土半互穿网络纳米复合水凝胶(CMC/PNIPA/Clay semi-IPN),并通过红外和透射电镜对其结构和形态进行了表征。在酸性(pH=1.2)和20℃条件下,分别研究了温度和不同pH缓冲液对该凝胶溶胀度的影响,测定了复合水凝胶的力学性能。结果表明:水凝胶中的粘土被剥离成单片层,且均匀分散在凝胶网络中,起交联剂的作用,而CMC以线性大分子的形态存在;CMC/PNIPA/Clay具有良好的温度、pH双重敏感特性;凝胶的断裂伸长率>1 000%。     

Preparation and characterization of sodium carboxymethylcellulose/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/clay semi-IPN nanocomposite hydrogels

A new kind of pH-/temperature-responsive semi-interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels based on linear sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) cross-linked by inorganic clay (CMC/PNIPA/Clay hydrogel) was prepared. The temperature- and pH-responsive behaviors, the mechanical properties of these hydrogels were investigated. The CMC/PNIPA/Clay hydrogels exhibited a volume phase transition temperature around 32 °C with no significant deviation from the conventional PNIPA hydrogels. The swelling ratio of the CMC/PNIPA/Clay hydrogels gradually decreased with increasing the contents of clay. The influence of pH value on swelling behaviors showed that there is a maximum swelling ratio at pH 5.9. Moreover, the CMC/PNIPA/Clay hydrogels exhibited excellent mechanical properties with high tensile stress and elongation at break in excess of 1200%.     

Preparation and characterization of pH- and temperature-responsive semi-IPN hydrogels of carboxymethyl chitosan with poly (<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropyl acrylamide) crosslinked by clay

A new kind of pH- and temperature-responsive semi-interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel based on linear carboxymethylchitosan (CMCS) and poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) crosslinked by inorganic clay was prepared. The pH-and temperature-responsive behaviors, the deswelling kinetics, and the mechanical properties of the hydrogel were investigated. The hydrogels exhibited a volume phase transition temperature around 33 °C with no significant deviation from the conventional PNIPA hydrogels. The results of the influence of pH value on the swelling behaviors showed that the minimum swelling ratios of the hydrogels appeared near the isoelectric point (IEP) of CMCS, and when pH deviated from the IEP, the hydrogels behaved as polycations or polyanions. The novel hydrogels had much higher response rate than the conventional CMCS/PNIPA hydrogels. Moreover, the semi-IPN hydrogels crosslinked by clay could be elongated to more than 800% and the elongation could be recovered almost completely and instantaneously.     

Thermo‐ and pH‐induced phase transitions and network parameters of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐ co‐2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐propanosulfonic acid) hydrogels

Dual temperature‐ and pH‐sensitive hydrogels composed of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐propanosulfonic acid (AMPS) were prepared by free‐radical crosslinking copolymerization in aqueous solution at 22 °C. The mole percent of AMPS in the comonomer feed was varied between 0.0 and 7.5, while the crosslinker ratio was fixed at 5.0/100. The effect of AMPS content on thermo‐ and pH‐ induced phase transitions as well as equilibrium swelling/deswelling, interior morphology and network structure was investigated. The volume phase transition temperature (VPT‐T) was determined by both swelling/deswelling measurements and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique. In addition, the volume phase transition pH (VPT‐pH) was detected from the derivative of the curves of the swelling ratio (dQ_v/dpH) versus pH. The polymer‐solvent interaction parameter (χ) and the average molecular mass between crosslinks ( ) of hydrogels were calculated from swelling ratios in buffer solutions at various pHs. The enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) changes appearing in the χ parameter of hydrogels were also determined by using the modified Flory–Rehner equation. The negative values for ΔH and ΔS indicated that the hydrogels had a negative temperature‐sensitive property in water, that is, swelling at a lower temperature and shrinking at a higher temperature. It was observed that the experimental swelling data of hydrogels at different temperature agreed with the modified Flory‐Rehner approach based on the affine network model. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1713–1724, 2008     

Dual thermo‐ and pH‐sensitive network‐grafted hydrogels formed by macrocrosslinker as drug delivery system

Dual thermo‐ and pH‐sensitive network‐grafted hydrogels made of poly(N,N‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) network and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) grafting chains were successfully synthesized by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, and click chemistry. PNIPAM having two azide groups at one chain end [PNIPAM‐(N₃)₂] was prepared with an azide‐capped ATRP initiator of N,N‐di(β‐azidoethyl) 2‐chloropropionylamide. Alkyne‐pending poly(N,N‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate‐co‐propargyl acrylate) [P(DMAEMA‐co‐ProA)] was obtained through RAFT copolymerization using dibenzyltrithiocarbonate as chain transfer agent. The subsequent click reaction led to the formation of the network‐grafted hydrogels. The influences of the chemical composition of P(DMAEMA‐co‐ProA) on the properties of the hydrogels were investigated in terms of morphology and swelling/deswelling kinetics. The dual stimulus‐sensitive hydrogels exhibited fast response, high swelling ratio, and reproducible swelling/deswelling cycles under different temperatures and pH values. The uptake and release of ceftriaxone sodium by these hydrogels showed both thermal and pH dependence, suggesting the feasibility of these hydrogels as thermo‐ and pH‐dependent drug release devices. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

A novel pH‐ and thermo‐sensitive PVP/CMC semi‐IPN hydrogel: Swelling,phase behavior,and drug release study

Poly(N‐vinyl‐pyrrolidone) (PVP) hydrogel has been considered as a very interesting and promising thermosensitive material. The most vital shortcoming of PVP hydrogel as thermosensitive material is that it does not exhibit thermosensitivity under usual conditions. In this work, semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) hydrogels based on PVP and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) were prepared. The volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) of the hydrogels was determined by swelling behavior and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that the VPTT was significantly dependent on CMC content and the pH of the swelling medium. The amount of CMC in the semi‐IPN hydrogels was 0.050, 0.075, and 0.100 g, the VPTT in buffer solution of pH 1.2 was 29.9 °C, 27.5 °C and 24.5 °C, respectively. In addition, the VPTT occurred in buffer solution of pH 1.2, but did not appear in alkaline medium. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model drug was loaded and the in vitro release studies were carried out in different buffer solutions and at different temperatures. The results of this study suggest that PVP/CMC semi‐IPN hydrogels could serve as potential candidates for protein drug delivery in the intestine. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1749–1756, 2010     

pH/temperature double responsive behaviors and mechanical strength of laponite‐crosslinked poly(DEA‐co‐DMAEMA) nanocomposite hydrogels

A nanocomposite (NC) hydrogel crosslinked by inorganic Laponite XLG was successfully synthesized via in situ free radical polymerization of monomers N,N‐diethylacrylamide and (2‐dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA). Polymerization was carried out at room temperature due to the accelerating effect of DMAEMA. The as‐prepared hydrogels displayed controlled transformation in optical transmittance and volume in response to small diversification of environmental factors, such as temperature and pH. The compressive strength of swollen D_6:1G₆ hydrogels was as high as 2219 kPa while compressive strain was 95%. Cyclic compression measurement exhibited good elastic properties of NC hydrogels. This work provides a facile method for fabricating stimuli‐responsive hydrogels with superior mechanical property. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 876–884     

Novel poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)/clay/poly(acrylamide) IPN hydrogels with the response rate and drug release controlled by clay content

Novel interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogels (PNIPAAm/clay/PAAm hydrogels) based on poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) crosslinked by inorganic clay and poly(acrylamide) (PAAm) crosslinked by organic crosslinker were prepared in situ by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation polymerization. The effects of clay content on temperature dependence of equilibrium swelling ratio, deswelling behavior, thermal behavior, and the interior morphology of resultant IPN hydrogels were investigated with the help of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), scanning electron microscope (SEM). Study on temperature dependence of equilibrium swelling ratio showed that all IPN hydrogels exhibited temperature‐sensitivity. DSC further revealed that the temperature‐sensitivity was weakened with increasing amount of clay. Study on deswelling behavior revealed that IPN hydrogels had much faster response rate when comparing with PNIPAAm/clay hydrogels, and the response rate of IPN hydrogels could be controlled by clay content. SEM revealed that there existed difference in the interior morphology of IPN hydrogels between 20 [below lower critical solution temperature (LCST)] and 50 °C (above LCST), and this difference would become obvious with a decrease in clay content. For the standpoint of applications, oscillating swelling/deswelling behavior was investigated to determine whether properties of IPN hydrogels would be stable for potential applications. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as model drug for in vitro experiment, the release data suggested that the controlled drug release could be achieved by modulating clay content. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 96–106, 2009     

Thermoresponsive drug controlled release from chitosan‐based hydrogel embedded with poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) nanogels

A facile synthetic strategy was developed for the preparation of thermoresponsive nanocomposite hydrogels comprising crosslinked chitosan (CS) networks and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) [p(NIPAAm)] nanogels. First, thermoresponsive p(NIPAAm) nanogels were synthesized via emulsion polymerization. The p(NIPAAm) nanogels were introduced into methacrylamide CS (MC) solution and the free‐radical initiated crosslinking reaction of MC produced nanogel‐embedded hydrogels. The last step involves the loading of the antibacterial model drug levofloxacin (LFX) into the prepared nanocomposite hydrogels by allowing the preformed hydrogels to swell to equilibrium in the drug's aqueous solution. The integration of p(NIPAAm) nanogel into CS networks facilitates thermoresponsive release of LFX with an enhancement of the drug‐loading capacity within the hydrogel. Notably, thermoresponsive drug‐release was achieved without unwarranted modification of the hydrogel's dimension and shape, although an increase in temperature caused the collapse of the p(NIPAAm) nanogels. The thermoresponsive property of the investigated nanocomposite hydrogel is beneficial and may offer broad opportunities for drug temperature‐triggered release for clinical applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1907–1914     

Effect of 1,4‐dioxane on synthesis of macroporous poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels

Thermosensitive Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) hydrogels were synthesized by a free radical solution polymerization in three different ways. Normal hydrogels were prepared at room temperature and normal cryogels were prepared at subzero temperature. A cation surfactant dodecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium bromide (DDBAB) was used during preparation of novel cryogels in freezing state. The response rates of normal hydrogels were very slow, whereas the rates of both normal and novel cryogels were very fast because of the macroporous structure of the cryogels. Mixed solvents which were composed of pure water and 1,4‐dioxane at various concentrations were used instead of pure water during the polymerization. The effects of the mixed solvent on morphology, swelling ratio, and deswelling/reswelling kinetics of the three kinds of hydrogels were investigated. For normal hydrogels and normal cryogels, there was no remarkable difference no matter the mixed solvent or pure water was used. However, the properties of the resulted novel cryogels were much different with the concentration of dioxane. Finally, the resulted hydrogels were used for concentrating emulsified paraffin. The different separation performance was attributed to the different structure of gel matrix. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6594–6603, 2008     

Preparation and properties of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)/poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) interpenetrating polymer networks for drug delivery

A novel poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA)/PNIPA interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) was synthesized and characterized. In comparison with conventional PNIPA hydrogels, the shrinking rate of the IPN hydrogel increased when gels, swollen at 20 °C, were immersed in 50 °C water. The phase‐transition temperature of the IPN gel remained unchangeable because of the same chemical constituent in the PNIPA gel. The reswelling kinetics were slower than those of the PNIPA hydrogel because of the higher crosslinking density of the IPN hydrogel. The IPN hydrogel had better mechanical strength because of its higher crosslinking density and polymer volume fraction. The release behavior of 5‐fluorouracil (5‐Fu) from the IPN hydrogel showed that, at a lower temperature, the release of 5‐Fu was controlled by the diffusion of water molecules in the gel network. At a higher temperature, 5‐Fu inside the gel could not diffuse into the medium after a burst release caused by the release of the drug on the surface of the gel. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1249–1254, 2004     

Synthesis and characterization nanocomposite of polyacrylamide‐rGO‐Ag‐PEDOT/PSS hydrogels by photo polymerization method

We present a novel approach to the fabrication of advanced polymeric nanocomposite hydrogels from polyacrylamide (PAAm) by incorporation of graphene‐silver‐polyethylenedioxythiophene‐polystyrene sulfonate (rGO‐Ag‐PEDOT/PSS) by photopolymerization method. Infrared spectroscopy was employed to characterize the structure of the hydrogels. The internal network structure of nanocomposite hydrogels was investigated by scanning electron microscope. Swelling, deswelling, and mechanical properties of the hydrogels were investigated. The compressive strength of nanocomposite hydrogels reaches maximum of 1.71 MPa when the ratio of rGO‐Ag‐PEDOT/PSS to PAAm was 0.3 wt%, which is 1.57 times higher than that of PAAm hydrogels (1.09 MPa). The electrical conductivity of the PAAm‐rGO‐Ag‐PEDOT/PSS hydrogel was found to be 3.91 × 10^?5 S cm^?1. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dye removal by a novel hydrogel‐clay nanocomposite with enhanced swelling properties

Acrylamide (AAm)‐2‐acrylamide‐2‐methylpropanesulfonic acid sodium salt (AMPSNa) hydrogel and AAm‐AMPSNa/clay hydrogel nanocomposite having 10 w% clay was prepared by in situ copolymerization in aqueous solution in the presence of a crosslinking agent (N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (NMBA)). Swelling properties and kinetics of the hydrogel samples were investigated in water and aqueous solutions of the Safranine‐T (ST) and Brilliant Cresyl Blue (BCB) dyes. The swelling and diffusion parameters were also calculated in water and dye solutions. It was observed that the AAm‐AMPSNa/clay hydrogel nanocomposite exhibits improved swelling capacity compared with the AAm‐AMPSNa hydrogel. It was also found that the diffusion mechanisms show non‐Fickian character. Adsorption properties of the hydrogel samples in the aqueous solution of ST and BCB dyes were also investigated. Clay incorporation into the hydrogel structure increased not only the adsorption capacity but also the adsorption rate. Adsorption capacity values of the hydrogel nanocomposite were found to be 484.2 and 494.2 mg g^?1 for the ST and BCB dyes, respectively. It was seen that the adsorption of dyes by the hydrogel nanocomposite completed in 10 min while the AAm‐AMPSNa hydrogel adsorbed dyes approximately in 90 min. Adsorption data of the samples were modelled by the pseudo‐first‐order and pseudo‐second‐order kinetic equations in order to investigate dye adsorption mechanism. It was found that the adsorption kinetics of hydrogel nanocomposite followed a pseudo‐second‐order model. Equilibrium isotherms were analyzed using the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. It was seen that the Langmuir model fits the adsorption data better than the Freundlich model. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel method to prepare a fast responsive,thermosensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel

A fast responsive, thermosensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) hydrogel was obtained after cold‐treatment of a swollen, untreated PNIPA hydrogel at low temperature for 24 h. After this treatment, the PNIPA hydrogel exhibits a faster deswelling rate than untreated PNIPA hydogel. This property is probably due to an enhancement of the regularity of macromolecular arrangement during the freezing process.     

3‐D Interdigitated electrodes for uniform stimulation of electro‐responsive hydrogels for biomedical applications

Stimuli‐responsive hydrogels are continuing to increase in demand in biomedical applications. Occluding a blood vessel is one possible application which is ideal for a hydrogel because of their ability to expand in a fluid environment. However, typically stimuli‐responsive hydrogels focus on bending instead of radial uniform expansion, which is required for an occlusion application. This article focuses on using an interdigitated electrode device to stimulate an electro‐responsive hydrogel in order to demonstrate a uniform swelling/deswelling of the hydrogel. A Pluronic‐bismethacrylate (PF127‐BMA) hydrogel modified with hydrolyzed methacrylic acid, in order to make it electrically responsive, is used in this article. An interdigitated electrode device was manufactured containing Platinum electrodes. The results in this paper show that the electrically biased hydrogels deswelled 230% more than the non‐biased samples on average. The hydrogels deswelled uniformly and showed no visual deformations due to the electrical bias. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013 , 51, 1523–1528     

Double‐crosslinked reversible redox‐responsive hydrogels based on disulfide–thiol interchange

We present novel redox‐responsive hydrogels based on poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) or poly(acrylamide), consisting of a reversible disulfide crosslinking agent N,N′‐bis(acryloyl)cystamine and a permanent crosslinking agent N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide for microfluidic applications. The mechanism of swelling/deswelling behavior starts with the cleavage and reformation of disulfide bonds, leading to a change of crosslinking density and crosslinking points. Raman and ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy confirm that conversion efficiency of thiol–disulfide interchange up to 99%. Rheological analysis reveals that the E modulus of hydrogel is dependent on the crosslinking density and can be repeatedly manipulated between high‐ and low‐stiffness states over at least 5 cycles without significant decrease. Kinetic studies showed that the mechanical strength of the gels changes as the redox reaction proceeds. This process is much faster than the autonomous diffusion in the hydrogel. Moreover, cooperative diffusion coefficient (D_coop) indicates that the swelling process of the hydrogel is affected by the reduction reaction. Finally, this reversibly switchable redox behavior of bulky hydrogel could be proven in microstructured hydrogel dots through short‐term photopatterning process. These hydrogel dots on glass substrates also showed the desired short response time on cyclic swelling and shrinking processes known from downsized hydrogel shapes. Such stimuli‐responsive hydrogels with redox‐sensitive crosslinkers open a new pathway in exchanging analytes for sensing and separating in microfluidics applications. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 2590–2601     

Hydration‐mediated effects of saccharide stereochemistry on poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) gel swelling

To shed new light on the mechanisms of saccharide stereochemistry effect on macromolecules in aqueous solutions, we studied the effect of three monosaccharide stereoisomers, glucose, galactose, and mannose, on the swelling of Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) hydrogels. We equilibrated PNIPA hydrogels in sugar solutions of different concentrations at 25 °C, and determined gel volume and mass swelling ratios, and sugar concentration imbalance. The volume‐phase‐transition occurred at molal concentrations of 0.587 ± 0.004 (galactose), 0.724 ± 0.003 (glucose), and 0.846 ± 0.004 (mannose). The same order of sugars emerged for the gel‐swelling and the magnitude of the sugar concentration‐imbalance, which correlated with sugar isentropic molar compressibility and hydration number. The more hydrated the sugar, the worse a cosolvent it is for the polymer, hence the larger the deswelling and the more negative the sugar concentration imbalance. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks composed of poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) and polyacrylamide hydrogels

Three series of semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks, based on crosslinked poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPA) and 1 wt % nonionic or ionic (cationic and anionic) linear polyacrylamide (PAAm), were synthesized to improve the mechanical properties of PNIPA gels. The effect of the incorporation of linear polymers into responsive networks on the temperature‐induced transition, swelling behavior, and mechanical properties was studied. Polymer networks with four different crosslinking densities were prepared with various molar ratios (25:1 to 100:1) of the monomer (N‐isopropyl acrylamide) to the crosslinker (methylenebisacrylamide). The hydrogels were characterized by the determination of the equilibrium degree of swelling at 25 °C, the compression modulus, and the effective crosslinking density, as well as the ultimate hydrogel properties, such as the tensile strength and elongation at break. The introduction of cationic and anionic linear hydrophilic PAAm into PNIPA networks increased the rate of swelling, whereas the presence of nonionic PAAm diminished it. Transition temperatures were significantly affected by both the crosslinking density and the presence of linear PAAm in the hydrogel networks. Although anionic PAAm had the greatest influence on increasing the transition temperature, the presence of nonionic PAAm caused the highest dimensional change. Semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks reinforced with cationic and nonionic PAAm exhibited higher tensile strengths and elongations at break than PNIPA hydrogels, whereas the presence of anionic PAAm caused a reduction in the mechanical properties. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3987–3999, 2004     

Organic–inorganic hybrid hydrogels involving poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane: Preparation and rapid thermoresponsive properties

3‐Acryloxypropylhepta(3,3,3‐trifluoropropyl) polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) was synthesized and used as a modifier to improve the thermal response rates of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogel. The radical copolymerization among N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), the POSS macromer and N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide was performed to prepare the POSS‐containing PNIPAM cross‐linked networks. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the POSS‐containing PNIPAM networks displayed the enhanced glass transition temperatures (T_g's) and improved thermal stability when compared with plain PNIPAM network. The POSS‐containing PNIPAM hydrogels exhibited temperature‐responsive behavior as the plain PNIPAM hydrogels. It is noted that with the moderate contents of POSS, the POSS‐containing PNIPAM hydrogels displayed much faster response rates in terms of swelling, deswelling, and re‐swelling experiments than plain PNIPAM hydrogel. The improved thermoresponsive properties of hydrogels have been interpreted on the basis of the formation of the specific microphase‐separated morphology in the hydrogels, that is, the POSS structural units in the hybrid hydrogels were self‐assembled into the highly hydrophobic nanodomains, which behave as the microporogens and promote the contact of PNIPAM chains and water. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 504–516, 2009     

Synthesis and characterization of thermo-sensitive poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel with fast response rate

Thermo-sensitive poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) hydrogel with fast response rate was prepared by polymerizing N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) in an aqueous hydroxyl-propyl-methyl cellulose solution. The volume phase transition temperature of PNIPA hydrogels was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the surface morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The swelling ratios of the hydrogels at different temperatures were measured. Furthermore, the deswelling kinetics of the hydrogels was also studied by measuring their water retention capacity. In comparison with a conventional PNIPA hydrogel prepared in water, the hydrogel synthesized in aqueous hydroxyl-propyl-methyl cellulose solution has higher swelling ratios at temperatures below the lower critical solution temperature and exhibits a much faster response rate to temperature changes. For example, the hydrogel made in aqueous hydroxyl-propyl-methyl cellulose solution lost 89% water within 1 min and about 93% water in 4 min, whereas the conventional hydrogel lost only about 66% water in 15 min from the deswelling measurement in similar conditions. Translated from Chinese Journal of Applied Chemistry, 2006, 23(6): 581–585 (in Chinese)