One-step synthesis of methacrylated POSS cross-linked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels by γ-irradiation

In this paper, inorganic/organic hybrid poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogels based on polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) were prepared via γ-ray irradiation in one step. Here, the octa-methacrylate POSS (OMAPOSS) as a crosslinker could effectively control the size of pores of the hybrid hydrogels, which has been revealed by SEM. The thermal property of the hybrid PNIPAM hydrogels was also influenced by the amount of OMAPOSS. Additionally, OMAPOSS-containing hybrid hydrogels exhibited excellent water absorption and water release properties, which were characterized by swelling/deswelling experiments.