New Polymeric Hydrogels Covalently Grafted to Planar Polymer Surfaces

摘要

Hydrogels are cross-linked, three-dimensional hydrophilic polymer networks that swell but do not dissolve when brought into contact with water. Hydrogels must often display a number of characteristics including degradation, mechanics, and biocompatibility. Mechanical properties of hydrogels are also critical in some applications; for example, superporous gels. The fully swollen hydrogels are not usually mechanically suited to the requirements of certain applications. Sometimes very high mechanical properties in the swollen state are demanded. The mechanical properties of hydrogels depend mainly on the polymer chains original rigidity, the types of cross-linking molecules, the cross-linking density and swelling as a result of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance. It was shown that mechanical properties of hydrogels can be improved by the formation of hydrogels from interpenetrating networks or by the incorporation of micro- or nanoparticles into the hydrogels structure. One approach to improving hydrogels mechanical properties is to introduce nanosized particles as cross-linkers in hydrogels.