Preparation and characterization of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-modified poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) hydrogels by interpenetrating polymer networks for sustained drug release

In order to investigate the influence of hydrophobic moieties formed by poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) in a hydrogel matrix on the release behavior of the hydrogel, a series of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm)-modified poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate-co-2-hydroxyethyl 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (P(HEA-co-HEMA)) via interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were prepared by a sequential UV solution polymerization. Interestingly, it was found that P(HEA-co-HEMA)/PNIPAm IPN indicated a single glass transition temperature (T(g)) and the T(g)s of the IPNs increased with an increase in the PNIPAm component. This phenomenon may be attributed to hydrogen bonding between the two polymer networks, but the hydrogen bonding exerts less influence on the swelling behavior of the IPNs, due to the fact that IPNs can respond to changes in temperature like PNIPAm. Using 2-[(diphenylmethyl)sulphiny]acetamide (modafinil, MOD) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) as model drug compounds, the release behavior of the IPNs was studied at body temperature, and it was found that the presence of PNIPAm could retard drug release regardless of the solubility of the drugs. Release profiles of HBA from the IPNs and their component samples as a function of time at 37 degrees C.     

Gelation and Swelling Behavior of Semi-Interpenetrating Polymer Network Hydrogels Based on Polyacrylamide and Poly(vinyl alcohol)

Novel semi-Interpenetrating Polymer Network (semi-IPN) hydrogels based on partially Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide (HPAM) and Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) (PVA) were prepared by solution crosslinking using chromium triacetate. Effects of PVA content on the gelation process and swelling behavior in tap water and different electrolyte solutions were investigated. Study of the gelation behavior using dynamic rheometery showed that the limiting storage modulus of the semi-IPN gels decreased with increasing PVA content. It was also found that increasing the PVA content increases the loss factor, indicating that the viscous properties of this gelling system increase more strongly than the elastic properties. The swelling ratio of the semi-IPN gels in tap water decreased as the concentration of the PVA increased. However, the semi-IPN gels showed lower salt sensitivity factor in synthetic oil reservoir water as compared with HPAM gels. Therefore, they are potentially good candidates for enhanced oil recovery applications.     

Performance and Mechanism of Epoxy Resin for Reinforcement of Styrene–Butadiene Rubber

Styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) vulcanizates reinforced by epoxy resin (EP) have been synthesized by an in-situ vulcanization and curing process. The influences of synthetic parameters, such as the contents of EP, carbon black, and types of compatilizers, on the microstructures, vulcanization, and mechanical properties of SBR have been investigated. It was found that EP in SBR exists in the form of a fibrillar interpenetrating network, which is important for the enhancement of mechanical properties of SBR. The experimental results showed that when the percentage of EP was in the range of 10–20%, the composite materials had the best comprehensive performance. In comparison with pure SBR, the tear strength and the tensile stress at 300% elongation of SBR-EP composite were increased significantly. The method can be applicable for other rubber vulcanizates to improve their mechanical properties.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Amino Acid Modified NDI Lanthanide Coordination Complex

The synthesis and crystal structure of γ‐aminobutyric acid naphthalene diimides derivative with the La^III coordination complex, [La(L)(DMF)Cl]_n, was reported, which is a twofold interpenetrating metal‐organic framework architecture. The coordination polymer was characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The optical properties of the crystallized complex were investigated both in solution and the solid state.     

Antimicrobial loading into and release from poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(acrylic acid) semi‐interpenetrating hydrogels

Electrostatic interactions within a semi‐interpenetrating network (semi‐IPN) gel can control the postsynthesis loading, long‐term retention, and subsequent release of small‐molecule cationic antibiotics. Here, electrostatic charge is introduced into an otherwise neutral gel [poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)] by physically entrapping high‐molecular‐weight poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). The network structure is characterized by small‐angle neutron scattering. PEG/PAA semi‐IPN gels absorb over 40 times more antibiotic than PAA‐free PEG gels. Subsequent soaking in physiological buffer (pH 7.4; 0.15 M NaCl) releases the loaded antibiotics for periods as long as 30 days. The loaded gels elute antibiotics with diffusivities of 4.46 × 10^?8 cm²/s (amikacin) and 2.08 × 10^?8 cm²/s (colistin), which are two orders of magnitude less than those in pure PEG gels where diffusion is controlled purely by gel tortuosity. The release and hindered diffusion can be understood based on the partial shielding of the charged groups within the loaded gel, and they have a significant effect on the antimicrobial properties of these gels. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 64–72     

Autonomous conveyer gel driven by frontal polymerization

Autonomous mechanical mass transportation for cargos on the microscale with no need of continuous external powering is of great scientific and technological interest due to their extensive applications. However, it is still challenging to create a self‐driven system applicable to diverse micromaterial transportation demands. In this work, we developed a novel autonomous conveyer gel driven by frontal polymerization (FP). The chemical wave produced in FP was stable, and self‐propagating with a constant velocity, which can be easily monitored by thermal imaging or fluorescence labeling. We investigated the influence of the initiation temperature, swelling ratio of the gel substrate, and the size of the cargos on the motion of driven behavior. Results showed that the driving velocity can be well controlled by altering the initiation temperatures of FP. The swelling ratio and the size of the cargos had a key impact on the feasibility of self‐driven behavior. In addition, powerful driven capability by FP was demonstrated by successfully transporting cargos in series, and further applied for targeted synthesis of CdS nanocrystals. The methodology developed here provides an effective way to convert chemical energy to mechanical work, and may be useful in energy conversion and utilization, mass transportation and other applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1323‐1331     

Cellulose/poly(acryloyl morpholine) composites: synthesis by solution coagulation/bulk polymerization and analysis of phase structure

Cellulose/poly(acryloyl morpholine) (CELL/PACMO) compo sites were synthesized by bulk polymerization in the gel state of cellulose impregnated with reactive ACMO monomer. The thermal transition behaviour and phase structure of the CELL/PACMO composites obtained in film form were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy. For compositions rich in PACMO (CELL 30 wt %), it was revealed by DSC and DMA that the synthesized samples gave a composition-dependent Tg value higher than that of PACMO homopolymer, and the magnitude of the lowering of their dynamic modulus E in the glass transition region became extremely small in comparison with the corresponding drop in E noted for plain PACMO samples. These observations were interpreted as being due to the development of an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN)-type organization, resulting from successful fixation of an original netw ork structure of cellulose gels into the polymerized bulks. From the measurements of proton spin-lattice relaxation times in the NMR study, the IPN-like composites were estimated to be substantially homogeneous on a scale of a few nanometers. 0969--0239 © 1998 Blackie Academic & Professional     

MMTCA recognition by molecular imprinting in interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels based on poly(acrylic acid) and poly(vinyl alcohol)

A novel IPN hydrogel designed to recognize MMTCA is prepared by applying the molecular-imprinting method. The IPN is characterized by FT-IR, DSC, and SEM. Langmuir analysis shows that an equal class of adsorption is formed in the hydrogel. The adsorption equilibrium constant and the maximum adsorption capacity are evaluated, and the effect of the pH on MMTCA adsorption is discussed. The selectivity of the imprinted polymer for MMTCA is studied in aqueous solutions of MMTCA/aspirin/riboflavin. The results suggest that the MMTCA-imprinted polymer shows superior selectivity for MMTCA as compared to riboflavin and aspirin. The reproducibility of the imprinted polymer to MMTCA is also studied.     

Preparation of interpenetrating polymer network composed of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(acrylamide) hydrogels as a support of enzyme immobilization

Poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG)‐based interpenetrating polymeric network (IPN) hydrogels were prepared for the application of enzyme immobilization. Poly(acrylamide)(PAAm) was chosen as the other network of IPN hydrogel and different concentration of PAAm networks were incorporated inside the PEG hydrogel to improve the mechanical strength and provide functional groups that covalently bind the enzyme. Formation of IPN hydrogels was confirmed by observing the weight per cent gain of hydrogel after incorporation of PAAm network and by attenuated total reflectance/Fourier transform infrared (ATR/FTIR) analysis. Synthesis of IPN hydrogels with higher PAAm content produced more crosslinked hydrogels with lower water content (WC), smaller M_c and mesh size, which resulted in enhanced mechanical properties compared to the PEG hydrogel. The IPN hydrogels exhibited tensile strength between 0.2 and 1.2 MPa while retaining high levels of hydration (70–81% water). For enzyme immobilization, glucose oxidase (GOX) was immobilized to PEG and IPN hydrogel beads. Enzyme activity studies revealed that although all the hydrogels initially had similar enzymatic activity, enzyme‐immobilizing PEG hydrogels lost most of the enzymatic activity within 2 days due to enzyme leaching while IPN hydrogels maintained a maximum 80% of the initial enzymatic activity over a week due to the covalent linkage between the enzyme and amine groups of PAAm. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.