Synthesis of hydrogels based on poly(NIPAM) inserted into collagen sponge

The study presents the preparation of a semi-synthetic hydrogel based on poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide-co-diethylene glycol diacrylate) inserted onto the collagen porous membrane. The synthesis of the hydrogels was performed through radical copolymerization of N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAM) with diethylene glycol diacrylate (DEGDA) also as crosslinking agent, using ammonium persulfate as initiator and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylene diamine as activator, and it was achieved in the presence of the collagen matrix. The prepared hydrogels were characterized by Attenuated Total Reflectance–Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The swelling behaviour of the semi-interpenetrated polymer network related on the hydrogel composition, it was also evaluated. The pore sizes of the synthesized hydrogels, much larger than the typical mesh size of a conventional hydrogel, allow to consider the hybrid hydrogel based on the inserted poly(NIPAM-co-DEGDA) onto collagen fibrils as a super-porous hydrogel.

A crosslinked semi-interpenetrated 3D macrocomplex with porous structures was obtained through radical copolymerization between N-isopropyl acrylamide and diethylene glycol diacrylate in the presence of collagen sponge.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Preparation of hydrogel based on poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) onto collagen, it is presented.
► A crosslinked semi-interpenetrated 3D macrocomplex with porous structures, it was obtained.
► The super-porous hydrogels have higher swelling capacity that depends on their composition.
► The hybrid hydrogel pores size is much larger than typical mesh size of a conventional hydrogel.
► The pore size decrease corresponds to the increase of the crosslinker comonomer content.