Preparation and investigation of hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile as a preliminary biomedical hydrogel.
BACKGROUND
Hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile (HPAN) has attracted much attention as a hydrogel for a broad range of biomedical applications. Therefore, in this study, we prepared HPAN derivatives with controllable compositions by the radical polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN), methacrylic acid (MAA) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) monomers.


RESULTS
The prepared poly(AN-co-MAA-co-NIPAM) copolymers had different ratios of AN, MAA, and NIPAM and molecular weights ranging from 2000 to 50,000. The copolymers were prepared as films to examine their properties. The prepared copolymer films showed different solubilities, contact angles, and swelling ratios. The properties of the copolymer films were affected by the hydrophobic PAN segments and the hydrophilic PMAA or PNIPAM segments.


CONCLUSIONS
Thus, we conclude that introducing PMAA and PNIPAM segments with different ratios and lengths into PAN segments could represent a method of controlling the hydrogel properties of copolymers.
Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, 443-759 South Korea.
Ji Hoon
JH
Park
Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, 443-759 South Korea.
Guo Zhe
GZ
Tai
Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, 443-759 South Korea.
Bo Keun
BK
Lee
Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, 443-759 South Korea.
Seung Hun
SH
Park
Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, 443-759 South Korea.
Ja Yong
JY
Jang
Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, 443-759 South Korea ; R&DB Center, Cellumed Co., Ltd., Seoul, 153-803 South Korea.
Jung Soo
JS
Lee
Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, 443-759 South Korea.
Jae Ho
JH
Kim
Center for Biomaterials, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 136-791 South Korea.
Kwideok
K
Park
R&DB Center, Cellumed Co., Ltd., Seoul, 153-803 South Korea.
Ju Woong
JW
Jang
Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, 443-759 South Korea.
Moon Suk
MS
Kim
Biomedical applications; Hydrogel; Hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile; Radical polymerization; Swelling