Synthesis and characterization of p (N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels with tunable swelling behavior using different crosslinkers

Abstract

In the present study, a set of hydrogels were synthesized using N-isopropylacrylamide with various cross linkers at various dosages via free radical polymerization. Thermal and structural properties of the synthesized hydrogels were characterized via thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and Fourier Transformation Infrared Radiation (FTIR) spectroscopy. The effect of crosslinkers such as N,N´-Methylenebisacrylamide, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (p(EGDMA), and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (p(EGDA) (Mn:258, Mn:575, Mn:700) were used in p(NIPAM) hydrogel preparation and their effect on swelling behavior was investigated. It was found that the swelling rate was increased as the molecular masses of the cross-linkers used decreased, whereas the hydrogel prepared using p(EGDA)-700 swelled more than the other p(EGDA) crosslinked p(NIPAM) hydrogels.