Abstract

Novel dual stimuli-responsive hydrogels were prepared by free-radical polymerization of 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate (MEO2MA) and oligo (ethylene glycol) methacrylate (OEGMA), as thermosensitive monomers, and acrylic acid (AAc), as a pH-sensitive monomer. Due to the thermosensitive monomers introduced in the macromolecular network, the synthesized materials possessed tunable thermal behavior. In addition, as well as by introducing in the polymerization feed pH-sensitive monomer AAc, the equilibrium swelling properties of the hydrogels can be tuned by three comonomers. Moreover, the de-swelling kinetics was studied by changing temperature and/or pH, and they could be well described with a first-order kinetics equation. Especially, the faster shrinking rates of hydrogels were observed when the simultaneous temperature and pH stimuli changed from pH 8/18 to pH 2/55 °C because of the cooperative thermo-/pH responses. The prepared dual temperature-/pH-sensitive PMOA hydrogels as a new material candidate may provide significant valuable information for various potential applications.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.