Preparation of the Microsphere-Sized Poly(<i>N-Isopropylacrylamide</i>) Hydrogel Dispersed in Poly(<i>Vinyl Alcohol</i>) Matrix and its Thermo-Responsive Releasing Behavior

Abstract

A novel thermo-responsive microsphere-sized poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) composite hydrogels were prepared by gelation of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) solution containing ultra-fine CaCO3, then treated with 2wt% glutaraldehyde solution, sequencely with HCl acid, and PVA matrix with microsphere-sized pores obtained. The internal pores of the dry PVA matrix were filled with PNIPAm hydrogels to give a thermo-responsive composite hydrogels for drug carrier. The composite hydrogel was characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), temperature dependence of equilibrium swelling ratio in water of the composite hydrogels was also investigated. Rhodamine B (RB) was loaded to the composite hydrogels for release study.

Synergistic Thermoresponsive Optical Properties of a Composite Self-Healing Hydrogel

“…Notwithstanding, bulk hydrogels based on PNIPAM tend to have a slower response to rapid changes in temperature . Therefore, despite the significant progress made toward understanding and applications of PNIPAM-based hydrogels, ,,− several new technologies could benefit from further advances in new materials design and engineering strategies for producing hydrogels with superior properties. Recently, Chu and co-workers introduced a creative nanostructuring approach to obtain a rapid and highly elastic bulk PNIPAM-based hydrogel .…”