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Enhanced Swelling Rate of Poly(ethylene glycol)-Grafted Superporous HydrogelsPurdue University, Departments of Pharmaceutics and Biomedical Engineering, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
Purdue University, Departments of Pharmaceutics and Biomedical Engineering, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
Purdue University, Departments of Pharmaceutics and Biomedical Engineering, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA, kpark{at}purdue.edu Hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) grafts were introduced into superporous hydrogels (SPHs) to enhance the water absorption rate and swelling kinetics. PEG-grafted SPHs were prepared by copolymerization of acrylic acid and acrylamide monomers in the presence of PEG acrylate accompanied by a gas blowing foaming process to create superporous structures. PEG-grafted SPHs swelled 3 6 times faster than the control SPHs. The equilibrium swelling time was significantly reduced by introduction of hydrophilic PEG grafts and was further shortened by moisture. PEG-grafted SPHs containing 28wt% of moisture reached their equilibrium swelling within 20s. These PEG-grafted SPHs with fast swelling and superabsorbent properties may be useful for bioapplications where fast swelling kinetics is critical.
Key Words: hydrogels superporous hydrogels swelling kinetics super-porous structure poly(ethylene glycol)
Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers, Vol. 20, No. 3,
231-243 (2005) |
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