• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.359-364
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• 2015

A self-oscillating interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) poly(acrylic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PAA/PEG) hydrogel was prepared by using radical polymerization with a two-step method. The IPN hydrogel was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and morphological analysis. The results indicated that the chains of PEG and PAA twined to form porous structure which is beneficial to water molecules entering inside of the hydrogel. In addition, the pH-responsive behavior, salt sensitivity, swelling/de-swelling oscillatory behaviors and self-oscillation in a closed pH oscillator were also studied. The results showed that the prepared hydrogel exhibited pH-sensitivity, good swelling/de-swelling reversibility and excellent salt sensitivity. The self-oscillating behavior of swelling/de-swelling for the prepared hydrogel was caused by pH alteration coupled with the external media. This study may create a new possibility as biomaterial including new self-walking actuators and other related devices.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.805-810
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• 2007

Molecular recognition for a specific cation depending on the change of the oxidation state of the metal catalyst component contained in the hydrogel network has been studied in a self-oscillating hydrogel. The selfoscillating hydrogels are synthesized by the copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), lead methacrylic acid (Pb(MAA)2), and Ru(bpy)3 2+ monomer as a metal catalyst component. The recognition for a specific cation (in this study, Ca2+ has been used) is characterized by the adsorbed amount of Ca2+ into the gel. The recognition of the gels for Ca2+ is higher at the temperature below the LCST, and also higher at the oxidized state than at reduced state of the metal catalyst component which corresponds to a more swollen state. Moreover, a propagating wave induced by a periodic change of the oxidation state with the diffusion phenomena in the oscillating hydrogel shows a possibility for temporal and site-specific molecular recognition due to the local swelling of the gel.