• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2014

Polymer multilayered hydrogels were prepared on a titanium alloy (Ti) substrate using a layer-by-layer (LBL) process to load a cell growth factor. Two water-soluble polymers were used to fabricate the multilayered hydrogels, a phospholipid polymer with both N, N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) units and 4-vinylphenylboronic acid (VPBA) units [poly(MPC-co-DMAEMA-co-VPBA) (PMDV)], and the polysaccharide alginate (ALG). PMDV interacted with ALG through a selective reaction between the VPBA units in PMDV and the hydroxyl groups in ALG and through electrostatic interactions between the DMAEMA units in PMDA and the anionic carboxyl groups in ALG. First, the Ti substrate was covered with photoreactive poly vinyl alcohol, and then the Ti alloy was alternately immersed in the respective polymer solutions to form the PMDV/ALG multilayered hydrogels. In this multilayered hydrogel, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was introduced in different layers during the LbL process under mild conditions. Release of VEGF from the multilayered hydrogels was dependent on the location; however, release continued for 2 weeks. Endothelial cells adhered to the hydrogel and proliferated, and these corresponded to the VEGF release profile from the hydrogel. We concluded that multilayered hydrogels composed of PMDV and ALG could be loaded with cell growth factors that have high activity and can control cell functions. Therefore, this system provides a cell function controllable substrate based on the controlled release of biologically active proteins.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 2009

To modify and strengthen the properties of PHEMA hydrogel, composite hydrogels containing varying amounts of a Pluronic (PEO-PPO-PEO) component were synthesized by bulk polymerization of HEMA in the presence of Pluronic dimethacrylate under mild photo initiating conditions. The effects of the Pluronic component on gel properties were investigated by measuring the degree of swelling with its temperature responsive behavior, the mechanical properties, and the morphology of the composite hydrogels. With increased Pluronic content, the modified PHEMA hydrogels exhibited an increase in the degree of swelling, and the swelling showed an enhanced thermo-responsive behavior that was completely reversible. In addition, improved mechanical strength and the development of a microporous gel morphology were observed in hydrogels containing Pluronic.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.189-193
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• 2003

pH- and temperature-sensitive bifunctional hydrogels composed of N-isopropylacrylamide (NiPAAm) and a sulfadimethoxine monomer (SDM) derived from sulfadimethoxine were prepared. These hydrogels exhibit simultaneous pH- and temperature-induced volume-phase transitions. The pH-induced volume-phase transition behavior is produced by the ionization/deionization of SDM and is very sharp. In the high pH region, the ionization of SDM induces swelling of the hydrogels. In the low pH region, the deionization of SDM induces deswelling of the hydrogels. The temperature-induced volume-phase transition behavior of the bifunctional hydrogels exhibits negative thermosensitivity because of the NiPAAm component. The hydrogels swell even at low pH as the temperature decreases. The hydrogels swell at low temperature and high pH, and deswell at high temperature and low pH. The volume of the hydrogels dependl on the balance of the swelling and deswelling produced by the two competing stimuli, pH and temperature.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.359-367
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• 2019

Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) hydrogels modified with various co-monomers, such as N-vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP), glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), and glycerol monomethacrylate (GMMA), were prepared to investigate the effect of adding a co-monomer on the water contents, surface wettability, and tensile modulus. These polymers were synthesized by thermal- and photo-polymerization in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phosphineoxide (TPO) as the initiators. The characteristics of the hydrogels were analyzed via FTIR and UV/Vis spectroscopies, contact angle measurements, and tensile modulus measurements with UTM. Regarding the properties of water in the hydrogels, the ratio between free to bound water was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The effects of adding the co-monomers on the water content, surface wettability, and tensile modulus for soft contact lenses were also investigated. In the case of p(HEMA-co-NVP) hydrogels, the increase in the equilibrium water content (EWC) was primarily due to the increase in the bound water content. For p(HEMA-co-GMMA) hydrogels, an increase in free water content was the main reason for the increased EWC. In contrast, in the case of p(HEMA-co-GMA) hydrogels, a decrease in bound water content was observed to be the main factor that reduced the EWC. Photo-polymerized PHEMA hydrogels showed enhanced surface wettability and tensile modulus as compared to those produced via thermal polymerization.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.251-266
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• 1992

A major problem with the peptide-based drugs is that these drugs must generally be administered by injection. Therefore, there is considerable research interest in alternative routes of delivery, such as buccal, nasal, gastrointestinal route and etc. Site-specific drug delivery to the colon, as an alternative to parenteral drug delivery, is of interest for the delivery of peptide-based drugs as well as the delivery of low molecular weight drugs for the treatment of colonic disease, This review describes some considerations of colon-specific drug delivery using hydrogels.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.443-446
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• 2017

This study investigated the physical properties of polymers and antimicrobial activities of organic acids on Listeria monocytogenes to develop hydrogels. ${\kappa}-carrageenan$ (1, 2, and 3%), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC; 1, 3, and 5%), and agar (1.5 and 3%) were mixed with cross-linkers ($Na^+$, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, and $Al^{3+}$) or each other by stirring or heating to form cross-linkage, and their physical properties (hardness, elasticity, and swelling) were measured. The hydrogels formulated with organic acid (1, 3, and 5%) were analyzed by spot assay against L. monocytogenes. ${\kappa}-carrageenan$ formed hydrogels with high hardness without other cross-linkers, but they had low elasticity. The elasticity was improved by mixing with other cross-linkers such as $K^+$ or other polymer, especially in 3% ${\kappa}-carrageenan$. CMC hydrogel was formed by adding cross-linkers $Al^{3+}$, $Na^+$, or $Ca^{2+}$, especially in 5% CMC. Thus, stickiness and swelling for selected hydrogel formulations (two of ${\kappa}-carrageenan$ hydrogels and three of CMC hydrogels) were measured. Among the selected hydrogels, most of them showed appropriate hardness, but only 3% ${\kappa}-carrageenan-contained$ hydrogels maintained their shapes from swelling. Hence, 3% ${\kappa}-carrageenan+0.2%$ KCl and 3% ${\kappa}-carrageenan+1%$ alginate+0.2% KCl+0.2% $CaCl_2$ were selected to be formulated with lactic acid, and showed antilisterial activity. These results indicate that 3% ${\kappa}-carrageenan$ hydrogels formulated with lactic acid can be used to control L. monocytogenes on food surface.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.269-284
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• 2012

Thermoresponsive hydrogels based on N-Isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and 2-Hydroxyethylacrylate (HEA) were prepared by free radical polymerization. The hydrogels were characterized by elemental (CHN) analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). DSC thermogram showed two endothermic transitions which are due to hydration of water present in different environments. One near $0^{\circ}C$ called melting transition of ice and was used to calculate the quantitative determination of the amounts of freezing and non freezing water. The other transition above the ambient temperature was due to the combination of hydrophobic hydration and hydrophilic hydration which changes with the copolymer compositions. Swelling and deswelling studies of the hydrogels were carried out using the aqueous media, salt and urea solutions. The experimental results from swelling studies revealed that copolymers have lower rates of swelling and deswelling than the homopolymer.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.219-224
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• 2004

In this work, we prepared hydrogels for wound dressing from a mixture of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and alginate using the $\^$60/Co ${\gamma}$-ray irradiation technique. We examined the physical properties of these hydrogels, including gelation, water absorptivity, and gel strength, to evaluate the applicability of these hydrogels for wound dressings. The biocompatibility of these hydrogels was also evaluated in vitro, in cultures of mouse fibroblasts, and in vivo, by subcutaneous implantation studies in rats. The gel content and strength increased upon increasing the radiation dose and upon decreasing the concentration of alginate. The degree of swelling was inversely proportional to the gel content and strength. The degree of cytotoxicity of the ${\gamma}$-ray-treated hydrogels was ca. 60% compared to the (－) control (serum) after 1 day of incubation. When the incubations were prolonged up to 2 days, the toxicity of all the samples decreased remarkably and reached that of the control. Subcutaneous implantation studies in rats indicated that foreign body reactions occurring around the implanted hydrogels were moderate and became minimal upon increasing the implantation time.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.374-374
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• 2006

Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) shows a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at $32^{\circ}C$. Consequently, its thermosensitivity has extensively been investigated in coating materials as well as biomedical and agricultural industry. However, mechanical properties of the swollen gels are generally poor and reinforcement is often desired. A series of interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) and emulsion blends hydrogels of polyurethane (PU) and PNIPAAm were prepared in order to overcome the shortcomings of a normal PNIPAAm hydrogels. Regarding the mechanical reinforcement of swollen gel, a significant increase in compression and tensile properties has been obtained by incorporating PU.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.527-532
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• 2007

Polymer hydrogel has attracted considerable interest as a soft material which is finding expanding applications in pharmaceutics and various biomedical fields. In this work, modified PNVP hydrogels were synthesized by crosslinking polymerization of NVP monomer in the presence of PEG macromer with a methoxy end. The effect of the tethered PEG chain on the properties of the hydrogel was investigated in terms of its swelling capacity, compression gel strength, and the morphology of the resulting hydrogels. These PEG-modified PNVP hydrogels possessed good biocompatibility and a decreased protein (fibrinogen) adsorption, thereby indicating their potential as novel drug delivery matrices and scaffold for tissue engineering.