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Preparation and characterization of PMAA/MWCNTs nanohybrid hydrogels with improved mechanical properties
Author(s) -
Luo YanLing,
Xu Feng,
Feng QiangSuo,
Chen YaShao,
Ma Chao
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part b: applied biomaterials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.665
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1552-4981
pISSN - 1552-4973
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.b.31511
Subject(s) - swelling , poly(methacrylic acid) , methacrylic acid , self healing hydrogels , materials science , radical polymerization , polyelectrolyte , chemical engineering , characterization (materials science) , carbon nanotube , polymerization , polymer chemistry , nanotechnology , composite material , polymer , engineering
A novel nanohybrid hydrogel was in situ prepared by means of a free radical crosslinking polymerization route of methacrylic acid in the presence of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The structural and morphological characterizations revealed that poly(methacrylic acid) networks (PMAA) closely covered the MWCNTs, and a MWCNT‐well‐dispersed nanohybrid hydrogel was formed. The addition of MWCNTs strikingly improved pH response and mechanical properties, depending on the component ratios and particle sizes of MWCNTs as well as crosslinker concentrations. The swelling rate was obviously faster than that of the pure PMAA hydrogel. The hydrophilic nature of polyelectrolytes, the capillarity effect, cation‐π or charge‐transfer interaction and hydrogen bonds, as well as a subtle balance among these interactions were adopted to interpret the above swelling behavior. Load transfer to the MWCNTs in the networks played important part in compression mechanical improvements. MTT assays were adopted to evaluate the cytocompatibility of the developed biomaterials. This smart hydrogel is expected to be used as potential candidate for specific biological applications. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 2010