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Preparation of DNA-crosslinked Polyacrylamide Hydrogels

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Surface-Anchored Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Orthogonal Gradient Networks.

C K Pandiyarajan¹, Michael Rubinstein², Jan Genzer¹

¹Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7905, United States.

|September 24, 2016

Summary

This study introduces a novel method for creating surface-attached polyacrylamide gels with tunable cross-link density. The developed technique allows for precise, gradient control over gel properties across a substrate.

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Area of Science:

Polymer Chemistry
Materials Science
Surface Science

Background:

Polyacrylamide gels are widely used in various applications.
Controlling gel properties like cross-link density is crucial for performance.
Existing methods for creating gradient gels are often limited.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a versatile synthetic route for surface-attached polyacrylamide gels.
To achieve continuous and gradual variation of cross-link density in two orthogonal directions.
To enable orthogonal control over gel cross-linking using photo- and thermal-activation.

Main Methods:

Free radical polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) with photoactive methacrylyloxybenzophenone (MABP) and thermally active styrene sulfonyl azide (SSAz).
Orthogonal cross-linking using photoactivation of MABP and thermal activation of SSAz.
Spectroscopic ellipsometry to measure gel swelling as a function of position.

Main Results:

Successfully synthesized surface-attached polyacrylamide gels with spatially controlled cross-link density.
Demonstrated continuous and gradual variation of gel swelling across the substrate in two directions.
Observed inverse correlation between gel fraction and swelling degree.

Conclusions:

The developed synthetic route offers a versatile platform for creating gradient polyacrylamide gels.
The orthogonal activation of cross-linking provides precise control over gel network properties.
This method enables the fabrication of advanced materials with spatially tailored swelling behavior.