Macromolecular Rapid Communications · 2005 · 13 citations · 16 references
Materials ScienceHydrogelsBiopolymer GelBlock Co-polymersEngineeringPolymer MaterialPolymer StabilityPolymer ScienceResponsive PolymersFree Radical HomopolymerizationBiopolymersPolymer CharacterizationBiomedical EngineeringPolymer AnalysisSoft MatterPolymer ChemistryEthylene OxidePolymers
Abstract Summary: Hydrogels, the elastic chains of which are constituted of a short central poly(1,3‐dioxolane) (PDXL) block surrounded by two hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blocks, were obtained by free radical homopolymerization of α , ω –methacryloyloxy PEO‐ block ‐1,3‐PDXL‐ block ‐PEO macromonomers. The central PDXL block is known to be sensitive to acidic degradation due to the presence of acetal groups. Once swollen to equilibrium, these hydrogels were characterized for their equilibrium swelling degree and their mechanical properties and network degradation studies were carried out. Representation proposed for the breaking of a PEO‐ block ‐PDXL‐ block ‐PEO block copolymer. image Representation proposed for the breaking of a PEO‐ block ‐PDXL‐ block ‐PEO block copolymer.
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