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Crosslinkable PEO-PPO-PEO-based reverse thermo-responsive gels as potentially injectable materials.
Alejandro Sosnik1, Daniel Cohn, Julio San Román
1The Casali Institute of Applied Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904 Jerusalem, Israel. alejo@pob.huji.ac.il
Journal of Biomaterials Science. Polymer Edition
|April 26, 2003
Summary
This study details crosslinking Pluronic dimethacrylate in water at 37°C, creating a thermo-responsive gel. The crosslinked polymer exhibits enhanced mechanical properties and a porous structure, demonstrating potential for various applications.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
Background:
- Pluronic (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymers are widely used due to their tunable properties.
- Functionalization and crosslinking are key strategies to enhance polymer performance for specific applications.
- Understanding thermo-responsive behavior is crucial for developing smart materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the functionalization and crosslinking of Pluronic dimethacrylate in aqueous solution.
- To characterize the thermo-responsive behavior and rheological properties of the resulting crosslinked gel.
- To investigate the microstructure of the crosslinked Pluronic system.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of Pluronic dimethacrylate via reaction with methacryloyl chloride.
- Free radical polymerization using a redox system at 37°C for crosslinking.
- Characterization using swelling studies, rheological measurements, and environmental SEM.
Main Results:
- The crosslinked Pluronic gel demonstrated reverse thermo-responsive behavior, with 800% water uptake at 37°C (vs. 1600% at 25°C).
- Young's modulus increased significantly from 142.5 kPa for the dimethacrylate to 415.2 kPa for the crosslinked gel at 37°C.
- Environmental SEM revealed a distinct porous microstructure in the crosslinked gels.
Conclusions:
- The functionalization and crosslinking method successfully created a thermo-responsive Pluronic-based gel.
- The crosslinked material exhibits improved mechanical strength and a porous structure, suitable for advanced material applications.
- This study provides insights into tailoring Pluronic derivatives for specific performance requirements.