Temperature-sensitive polyamidoamine dendrimer/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels with improved responsive properties

Novel temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/amine-terminated polyamidoamine dendrimer G6-NH2 hydrogels with fast responsive properties were synthesized by forming semi-interpenetrating polymeric networks. In contrast to the conventional PNIPA hydrogel, these new gels showed rapid shrinking rate at the temperature above lower critical solution temperature (LCST), and exhibited higher equilibrium swelling ratio at room temperature. All these properties might be attributed to the incorporation of polyamidoamine dendrimer G6-NH2, which forms water-releasing channels and increases the hydrophilicity of PNIPA network. The novel hydrogels have potential applications in drug and gene delivery.