Phase-separated Hydrogels with Embedded Nanogels to Improve Shrinking and Re-swelling Processes
발표자
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초록
내용
Thermoresponsive hydrogels have attracted considerable interest in various fields because they undergo volumetric changes in response to temperature. For the application of a versatile thermoresponsive hydrogel, fast swelling/shrinking and large volumetric changes are required. In addition, for repeatable use, the shrunken gel should re-swell rapidly until it reaches an equilibrium swollen state. Here, we propose a novel type of thermoresponsive hydrogels that show improved shrinking and re-swelling. By using globular structure of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) in salt solution, it is possible to synthesize phase-separated hydrogels with large and rapid shrinkage than normal type of hydrogels. Furthermore, we incorporated simply synthesized nanogels in phase-separated hydrogels. As a result, hydrophilic and ionic nanogels effectively improved the rate of swelling. In this presentation, synthetic strategy of thermoresponsive hydrogels and improved kinetics of them will be discussed.