Composition dependent changes in the swelling and mechanical properties of nanocomposite hydrogels

Abstract

We are synthetized thermo- and pH-sensitive gels, which are then tested as skin extenders. Our aim is the development of copolymer and composite hydrogels that, when implanted under the human skin, swell osmotically and thereby induce skin growth. During the polimerization reaction we are produced copolymers with varyable composition, which are proceed from two acrylic compounds [N- isopropyl- acrylamide (NIPAAm), and acrylamide (AAm)]. The mechanical strength and the swelling stability of the gels are enhanced by the addition of fillers [Na- montmorillonite (Na- m.) and with alkyl- ammonium ion organophilized Na- montmorillonites [(C n - m.), n = 4, 12, 18]. With this method we are synthetized composite- hydrogels. The filler content of composites varies between 1 and 25 wt%. We observed that in the case of composites synthesized with the addition of fillers, relatively low filler contents (1–5 wt%) resulted in more extensive swelling and stronger gel structure. In the course of the experiments the monom...