Abstract
A new class of poly(ethylene glycol)-grafted, cationic hydrogels was prepared by copolymerization and simultaneous crosslinking of diethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DEAEM) and poly(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate (PEGMA). The ensuing hydrogels, P(DEAEM-g-PEG), exhibited a strong swelling ratio dependence on pH. At low acidic pH values they expanded to swelling ratios of up to 25, depending on the crosslinking density and feed ratio of the two comonomers. At alkaline pH values they tended to collapse excluding a significant quantity of the incorporated water. This swelling/deswelling process and the associated size can be used for the development of carriers for modulated drug delivery. Proxyphylline, vitamin B 12, and various dextrans diffusion studies were used to elucidate the effect of the gel mesh size on the solute diffusion coefficient.
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