Design, synthesis and characterization of a novel pH-sensitive hydrogel

A novel degradable pH-sensitive hydrogel with pendent carboxyl groups was designed and synthesized from ethylenediami-netetraacetic dianhydride (EDTAh) and butanediamine (BDA) with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) as a condensating agent and BDA as a crosslinking agent. The obtained polymers were characterized by 13C NMR, 1H NMR and FTIR. The swelling experiments of the hydrogel in pH 3, 7, and 12 media indicated much higher swelling ratio in pH 12 media than in pH 3 and pH 7 media, exhibiting sound pH sensitivity. The pH sensitivity of this type of hydrogel may be regulated through controlling the type and the dose of the crosslinking agent.