Microstructure, swelling and deformation behavior of methacrylate hydrogels with interpenetrating network structure

Title: Microstructure, swelling and deformation behavior of methacrylate hydrogels with interpenetrating network structure Author: Zhansaya Sadakbayeva Department: Department of Macromolecular Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University in Prague Supervisor: Ing. Miroslava Dušková-Smrčková, Dr., Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences Consultant: Prof. Ing. Karel Dušek, DrSc., Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences Abstract: This work is devoted to interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels prepared by sequential processes of redox-initiated radical polymerization of the first network prepared from 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and UV- initiated radical polymerization of the second network prepared from 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) or glycerol methacrylate (GMA). Microstructure, swelling and deformation responses of the IPN hydrogels and their constituent network hydrogels were tested by various techniques. The microstructure of the first poly(HEMA) network was found sensitive to polymerization conditions. A novel route for one-step synthesis of double-porous poly(HEMA) cryogel was proposed. The formation of the second poly(GMA) network in the environment of non-porous and macroporous poly(HEMA) parent networks was..