TEMPERATURE-RESPONSIVE GEL HAVING LCST WITH NO VOLUME PHASE TRANSITION, AND PRODUCTION METHOD THEREFOR

摘要

The present invention relates to a temperature-responsive hydrogel which contains a carboxyl group-bearing polymer and a divalent-metal salt of an organic acid. The carboxyl group-bearing polymer is, for example, a homopolymer of a carboxyl group-bearing monomer or a copolymer of a plurality of monomers including said monomer. The present invention further relates to a method for producing the temperature-responsive hydrogel, the method including immersing a carboxyl group-bearing polymer in an aqueous solution of a divalent-metal salt of an organic acid. The concentration of the divalent-metal salt of an organic acid in the aqueous solution is, for example, from 50 mM to the saturation concentration. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide: a temperature-responsive gel having an LCST with no volume phase transition; and a method for producing the temperature-responsive gel.