Entrapment of biomolecules into hydrogels obtained by radiation-induced polymerization

Involvement of fractal geometry on solute permeation through porous poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) membranes

Fractal geometry was applied to quantify the complexity of an internal structure of porous membranes prepared with poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA). The porous pHEMA membranes were synthesized by means of free-radical solution polymerization. Boundary lines of the porous structures in the pHEMA membrane were taken by a scanning electron microscope as image data, and these images were fed into a computer to estimate the fractal dimension. The boundary images of porous pHEMA membranes were observed to be a typical fractal and their complexity was quantified as a non-integral fractal dimension. The permeation of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran, molecular weight 4400 (FD-4) as a model penetrant through the porous pHEMA membrane was determined using water-jacket type two-chamber diffusion cells. A fairly good negative relationship between the permeability coefficient of FD-4 and the fractal dimension was observed, suggesting the usefulness of the fractal dimension as a novel means for evaluating solute permeation through the porous membranes.

Macroporous Hydrogels Based on 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate. Part 1. Copolymers of 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate with Methacrylic Acid

A series of macroporous crosslinked copolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with methacrylic acid (MA) was prepared in the presence of fractionated particles of sodium chloride. The hydrogels were characterized by the number of pores in unit volume, the pore size, the water content in pores and diffusion parameters. The structure of the hydrogels was followed by confocal and scanning electron microscopy.

Preparation of macroporous poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels by enhanced phase separation

Macroporous poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (p(HEMA)) hydrogels were prepared in the presence of a 0.3-0.7 M NaCl solution. The pore morphology of the p(HEMA) hydrogels was dependent on the concentration of NaCl for a constant monomer solution to aqueous solution ratio. Swelling studies showed an increase in equilibrium water content and hydrogel porosity as the NaCl concentration in the polymerization medium increased from 0 to 0.7 M. The equilibrium water content, however, decreased as the NaCl concentration in the swelling medium increased. The frozen water content increased and non-frozen water decreased with an increase in the NaCl concentration in the polymerization medium. Mechanical testing indicated that the elastic modulus of the hydrogels was not affected by the increased porosity until the pores became interconnected. These data suggest that the addition of NaCl to the polymerization medium results in a multi-phase separation during fabrication that produces macroporous hydrogels of controlled morphology.