title: Synthesis of biocompatible polymeric hydrogels with tunable adhesion to both hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces.
abstract: We report the synthesis of biocompatible polymeric hydrogels based on poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) and poly(methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride) (PMVE-MA). These polymeric hydrogels show strong and tunable adhesion to both hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces and should be ideal candidates as bioadhesives for applications such as denture adhesion. PVAc was partially hydrolyzed and then mixed with PMVE-MA. Crosslinking between these two polymers through reactions between hydroxyl groups in partially hydrolyzed PVAc and maleic anhydride groups in PMVE-MA increased their compatibility and prevented phase separation so transparent hydrogels were formed. The adhesion of these polymeric hydrogels to hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces was tailored by regulating the degree of hydrolysis of PVAc and the molecular weights of the polymers. In the vicinity of critical gel point, where the elastic modulus G' and the viscous modulus G'' scale as G' approximately G'' approximately omega (0.3), polymeric hydrogels show optimal adhesion. Transparent gels are formed in mixed solvents of water and ethanol. The content of ethanol in the mixed solvent can be partially replaced by propylene glycol, glycerol, or poly(ethenyl glycol)-400, and the composition of appropriate mixed solvents can be determined by the calculation of solubility parameters.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xuhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Prud'homme
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008298:Maleates / Q000737:chemistry; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D014783:Viscosity; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D008298:Maleates; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011145:Polyvinyls; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; C013215:polyvinyl acetate; D000431:Ethanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol; C043105:poly(methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride)