Thermosensitive hydrogels from copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide and anionic monomers

Thermosensitive hydrogels containing anionic monomer have been prepared from copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide and 3-sulphopropylacrylate potassium salt, 3-sulphopropylmethacrylate potassium salt and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulphonic acid in the presence of N,N'-methylene-bisacrylamide as crosslinking agent with potassium persulphate/N,N,N',N',-tetramethylethylenediamine as initiator in water at room temperature. The swelling behaviour and volume transition temperature of the gels containing different anionic monomers were studied. It was found that with increasing content of anionic monomer, the swelling ratio as well as the volume transition temperature of the gel increased. The swelling behaviour of the gels in salt-containing water was investigated.Polymer ScienceSCI(E)EI13ARTICLE4449-4514