Synthesis and characteristics of semi-interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels based on chitosan and poly(hydroxy ethyl methacrylate)

Maleic acid as an important monomer in synthesis of stimuli-responsive poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide-co-maleic acid) superabsorbent polymer

Poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide-co-maleic acid) (p(AA-co-AM-co-MA)) superabsorbent polymer was synthesized from acrylic acid (AA), acrylamide (AM), and maleic acid (MA) via free radical copolymerization. Results showed the presence of maleic acid in structure of superabsorbent has the key and superior role in creating a smart superabsorbent. The structure, morphology, and strength of the superabsorbent were characterized using FT-IR, TGA, SEM, and rheology analysis. The effect of different factors was investigated to determine the ability of water absorbency of the superabsorbent. According to optimized conditions, the water absorbency capacity of the superabsorbent in distilled water (DW) was 1348 g/g and in a solution containing 1.0 wt.% NaCl (SCS) was 106 g/g. The water retention ability of the superabsorbent was also investigated. The kinetic swelling of superabsorbent was identified by Fickian diffusion and Schott's pseudo-second-order model. Furthermore, the reusability of superabsorbent was studied in distilled water and saline solution. The ability of superabsorbent was investigated in simulated urea and glucose solutions, and very good results were obtained. The response ability of the superabsorbent was confirmed by swelling and shrinking behavior against changes of temperature, pH, and ionic strength.

Advances in interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels and their applications

Interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels brought distinct benefits compared to single network hydrogels like more widely controllable physical properties, and (frequently) more efficient drug loading/release. However, IPN strategy is not sufficient to design hydrogels with enhanced mechanical properties required for regenerative medicine like replacement of natural cartilage or artificial cornea. Some of the novel techniques promoted last decade for the preparation of IPN hydrogels which fulfill these requirements are discussed in the review. Among them, “double network” strategy had a strong contribution in the development of a large variety of hydrogels with spectacular mechanical properties at water content up to 90 %. Using cryogelation in tandem with IPN strategy led to composite cryogels with high mechanical properties and high performances in separation processes of ionic species. Highly stretchable and extremely tough hydrogels have been obtained by combining a covalently cross-linked synthetic network with an ionically cross-linked alginate network. IPN hydrogels with tailored mesh size have been also reported.

Preparation and in vitro evaluation of mucoadhesion and permeation enhancement of thiolated chitosan-pHEMA core-shell nanoparticles

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the in vitro mucoadhesion and permeation enhancement properties of thiolated chitosan (chitosan-glutathione) coated poly(hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate) nanoparticles. Core-shell nanoparticles were prepared by radical emulsion polymerization method initiated by cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate. Different molecular weights of chitosan were utilized for nanoparticles preparation. The physicochemical properties of nanoparticles were characterized by size, zeta potential, and thiol content. Incorporation of fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FD4, MW 4400 Da), which was used as the model macromolecule, was achieved by incubation method. The intestinal mucoadhesion and penetration enhancement properties of nanoparticles were investigated using excised rat jejunum. All nanoparticle systems showed mucoadhesion and improved apparent permeation coefficient (P(app)) of FD4. Nanoparticles prepared by thiolated chitosan with medium molecular weight revealed the most mucoadhesion and penetration enhancement properties.