Synthesis of poly(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate) hydrogel using starch-based nanosphere cross-linkers.
Biodegradable thermosensitive hydrogels have attracted great interest because of their potential in biomedical applications. Herein, we present a novel, thermoresponsive poly(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate) hydrogels with starch-based nanospheres as cross-linkers (NMH). NMHs exhibit a narrow lower critical phase transition temperature (LCST) range and high mechanical strength compared with conventional, small molecular cross-linked hydrogels (CMH). Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy confirms that the NMHs are degradable in aqueous medium. The phase transition temperature of the NMHs is ∼4°C compared with ∼25°C for CMH. The NMHs can sustain strength of 12.2MPa, 10 times more than that of CMH. Moreover, the deswelling rate of NMHs is faster than CMH. The different concentrations of nanospheres can efficiently regulate the various properties of NMHs. The NMHs have excellent properties because of its even network structure formed by nanosphere cross-linkers.
Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, 130022, PR China; Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China.
Chang
C
Liu
Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, 130022, PR China. Electronic address: tanying@ciac.ac.cn.
Ying
Y
Tan
Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, 130022, PR China.
Kun
K
Xu
Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, 130022, PR China; Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China.
Yangling
Y
Li
Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, 130022, PR China; Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China.
Cuige
C
Lu
Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, 130022, PR China. Electronic address: pxwang@ciac.ac.cn.
Pixin
P
Wang
D019245:Compressive Strength; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry*; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry*
D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D008689:Methacrylates; C581192:poly(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate); D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D013213:Starch
Hydrogel; LCST gap; Mechanical strength; Starch-based nanosphere; Thermosensitive