Polyelectrolyte hydrogels in biological systems: Modeling of swelling and deswelling behavior

Abstract

Polyelectrolyte hydrogels are a particular class of hydrogel whose behavior is connected to the variation of pH in the surrounding solution. Their behavior is influenced by the ionizable groups present on their chain. These groups could be acid or basic and polyelectrolytes could be anionic or cationic. To fully understand their behavior mathematical modeling has been widely used over many years. In this work a model based on a monophasic approach will be used to describe a general behavior of anionic hydrogels in a steady state condition at pH lower (or equal) to seven. Free swelling experiments and constrained swelling experiments have been simulated varying the parameters of the model to highlight the properties of the material. From a comparison with experimental data, it results that the proposed model can describe the general behavior of the system as described in the literature.