• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.637-643
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• 2008

A combination of magnetic and temperature-responsive properties in the same polymer composites is expected to increase their potential applications in the biomedical field. Accordingly, micron-sized magnetite/polystyrene/poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate-ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate), which are abbreviated as $Fe_3O_4$/PS/P (DM-EGDM) composite polymer particles, were prepared by the seeded copolymerization of DM and EGDM in the presence of magnetite/polystyrene ($Fe_3O_4$/PS) particles. $Fe_3O_4$/PS/P(DM-EGDM) composite particles with magnetic properties showed a temperature-sensitive phase transition at approximately $31^{\circ}C$. The adsorption behavior of the low molecular weight emulsifiers and trypsin (TR) as biomolecules were examined on $Fe_3O_4$/PS/P(DM-EGDM) composite polymer particles at different temperatures. The native conformation of TR was followed by measuring the specific activity under various adsorption conditions. The activity of the adsorbed TR on composite polymer particles was higher than those of the tree TR and TR adsorbed on $Fe_3O_4$/PS particles.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2022

Hydrogels have gained considerable attention in various fields due to their easily transformative ability by different stimulation. In addition, metal-based conductive additives can enable the hydrogels to be conductive with dimension change. Although the development of the additives offered enhanced electrical properties to the hydrogels, correspondingly enhanced mechanical properties may limit the volume and electrical properties switching after stimulation. Here we prepared poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) thermo-responsive hydrogel that has a 32℃ of low critical solution temperature and added liquid metal particles (LMPs) as conductive additives, possessing soft and stretchable benefits. The LMPs enabled PNIPAM (PNIPAM/LMPs) hydrogels to be constricted over 32℃ with a high volume switching ratio of 15.2 when deswelled. Once the LMPs are spontaneously oxidized in hydrogel culture, the LMPs can release gallium ions into the hydrogel nature. The released gallium ions and oxidized LMPs enhanced the modulus of the PNIPAM/LMPs hydrogel, triggering high mechanical stability during repeated swelling/deswelling behavior. Lastly, highly constricted PNIPAM/LMPs hydrogel provided a 5x10⁶ of electrical switching after deswelling, and the switching ratio was closely maintained after repeated swelling/deswelling transformation. This study opens up opportunities for hydrogel use requiring thermo-responsive and high electrical switching fields.