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Hydrogels based on pullulan derivatives crosslinked via a “living” free‐radical process
Author(s) -
Crescenzi Vittorio,
Dentini Mariella,
Bontempo Debora,
Masci Giancarlo
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3935(200207)203:10/11<1285::aid-macp1285>3.0.co;2-2
Subject(s) - pullulan , raft , self healing hydrogels , radical polymerization , chain transfer , polymer chemistry , chemistry , swelling , polymerization , reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer polymerization , chemical engineering , polymer , polysaccharide , organic chemistry , engineering
Partially methacrylated pullulan was crosslinked by means of conventional and “living” radical polymerisations using, in the latter case, the reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer technique (RAFT). Several hydrogels were synthesised using methacrylated pullulan samples with different degrees of substitution, at different conversions using the RAFT technique for the first time. Network formation was monitored by means of rheological measurements and the ensuing samples characterised by swelling experiments and morphological studies. Hydrogels prepared by the “living” radical polymerisation always swelled to a greater extent than conventional gels having the same double bond conversion. The difference was more pronounced at low conversion. Scanning electron microscopy also showed that the porosity of the gels could be effectively regulated with the “living” polymerisation.