Design and fabrication of novel organic/inorganic thermoresponsive hydrogels with excellent mechanical properties

Abstract

A novel hybrid hydrogels were synthesised by using inorganic clay as physical cross-linker and 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate (MEO₂MA) and oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (OEGMA) as comonomer via in situ free radical polymerisation. These hydrogels were characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, this new kind of organic/inorganic hybrid hydrogels exhibit remarkably thermoresponsiveness. The effect of clay content on the morphology, swelling/deswelling behaviours, temperature responsiveness, and mechanical properties of hybrid hydrogels were systematically investigated. The development of hybrid hydrogels will provide a new avenue for stimuli-responsive and biocompatible hydrogels, this novel kind of thermosensitive nanocomposite hydrogels promise to be interesting for the use in various applications.

Keywords:

• Hybrid hydrogels
• Thermosensitive behaviour
• 2-(2-Methoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate
• Oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate