Preparation of hydrogels by photopolymerization of acrylates in the presence of Type I and one-component Type II photoinitiators

Hydrogels were prepared by photoinduced polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol)monoacrylate (PEGMA) and poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate (n = 200 and 700) (PEGDA) with Type I, 1-4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-phenyl]-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-propane-1-one (I-2959) and one-component Type II initiators: (9-oxo-9H-thioxanthen-2-yloxy)-acetic acid (TXOCH₂COOH) and (9-oxo-9H-thioxanthen-2-yloxy)-sodium acetate (TXOCH₂COO^?Na⁺). The swelling properties of hydrogels were investigated and observed to be excellent. Smooth morphology and no phase separation were observed from SEM micrographs of the hydrogels.