Temperature responsive hydrogels with ethylene glycol propylene glycol pendant chains

Abstract

New hydrogels based on different oligo(alkylene glycol) methacrylate (OAGMA) with inverse thermoresponse and volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) were obtained and characterised. Synthesis was performed from monomer-solvent (OAGMA-water/ethanol) mixture using gamma radiation. Characterisation of the hydrogels was performed by swelling, UV-Vis, FTIR, SEM, DSC and in vitro biocompatibility (cytocompatibility and haemolytic activity) investigations. Due to the possibility to combine VPTT close to human body temperature with good biocompatibility, new homopolymeric hydrogel based on EGPG “block” pendant chains showed promising potential for different biomedical applications.