In this study, we propose a convenient method for the
synthesis
of double-network gels by the one-shot radical polymerization for
their application to rapid optical tissue clearing. Double-network
gels were produced during the radical polymerization of acrylamide
(AAm) and sodium styrenesulfonate (SS) in the presence of N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide and
sodium divinylbenzenesulfonate as the cross-linkers by simultaneous
addition, that is, one-shot polymerization accompanying the delay
of polymerization for a second network monomer. We analyzed the polymerization
process based on the consumption rates of each monomer during the
reactions in the absence of the cross-linkers in order to estimate
the repeating unit structure of the resulting polymers. We then fabricated
the AAm/SS gels by the polymerization of AAm and SS in the presence
of the cross-linkers. We analyzed the swelling, viscoelastic, and
mechanical properties of the produced gels to investigate their network
structure. Finally, we demonstrated the validity of the double-network
gels for the application to rapid optical tissue clearing.
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