Poly(<i>N</i>‐isopropylacrylamide)‐based comb‐type grafted hydrogel with rapid response to blood glucose concentration change at physiological temperature

Abstract

Abstract A new type of glucose‐responsive hydrogel with rapid response to blood glucose concentration change at physiological temperature has been successfully developed. The polymeric hydrogel contains phenylboronic acid (PBA) groups as glucose sensors and thermo‐responsive poly ( N ‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) groups as actuators. The response rate of the hydrogel to environmental glucose concentration change was significantly enhanced by introducing grafted poly( N ‐isopropylacrylamide‐ co ‐3‐acrylamidophenylboronic acid) [poly(NIPAM‐ co ‐AAPBA)] side chains onto crosslinked poly(NIPAM‐ co ‐AAPBA) networks for the first time. The synthesized comb‐type grafted poly(NIPAM‐ co ‐AAPBA) hydrogels showed satisfactory equilibrium glucose‐responsive properties, and exhibited much faster response rate to glucose concentration change than normal type crosslinked poly(NIPAM‐ co ‐AAPBA) hydrogels at physiological temperature. Such glucose‐responsive hydrogels with rapid response rate are highly attractive in the fields of developing glucose‐responsive sensors and self‐regulated drug delivery systems. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.