Evaluation of pH/temperature double responsivity of copolymerized methacrylate-based networks: Solvent diffusion analysis with adjustable swelling kinetics. (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zırıh, Tayyibe; Orakdogen, Nermin
• Is Part Of: European polymer journal. Volume 75(2016:Feb.)
• Page Start: 371
• Page End: 387
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: Copolymeric hydrogels -- Modulus -- Swelling -- Elasticity -- Poly(N, N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate); Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; Polymerization; Polymers; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2016.01.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-3057

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Dual pH- and thermo- responsive P(DMAEMA-co-HEMA) hydrogels having improved mechanical strength. Equilibrium swelling is a thermodynamic balance between elasticity of the network and the osmotic pressure of protonated network. P(DMAEMA-co-HEMA) hydrogels exhibited pH-dependent volume transition behavior. The swelling capacity of hydrogels increases as the acidity of the swelling medium increases. Incorporation of HEMA into PDMAEMA hydrogels provides significant advantages for their applications. Effective crosslink density distribution of hydrogels was calculated from the swollen state properties of hydrogels. Abstract: This study describes detailed investigation on dynamic swelling of cationic copolymeric hydrogels prepared by N, N -dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). The effect of pH on the copolymer structure and dynamic swelling kinetics of poly( N, N -dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate-co-2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (P(DMAEMA-co-HEMA)) hydrogels was investigated under various experimental conditions. The pH as well as the temperature-dependent swelling results showed that the copolymeric hydrogels have strong desire to respond to the external temperature- and pH-stimuli. P(DMAEMA-co-HEMA) hydrogels exhibit excellent compositional and mechanical features as well as the unique tunable time-dependent swelling behavior. In methacrylate-based hydrogels, the hydrophilicity of monomers and the degree of crosslinking are not only the factors that determine the degree of swelling of resultant copolymeric hydrogels, the elastic property is a third factor that should be taken into account when discussing the swelling behavior. P(DMAEMA-co-HEMA) hydrogels possess tunable physico-chemical properties that can be adjusted by the changing the copolymer composition.