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Effects of Cross‐Link Density on Structures and Properties of Dual‐Sensitive Semi‐Interpenetrating Polymer Networks Hydrogel Microspheres
Author(s) -
Lai Enping,
Wang Yuxia,
Wei Yi,
Li Guang,
Ma Guanghui
Publication year - 2017
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/macp.201600596
Subject(s) - microsphere , cross link , polymer chemistry , polymer , materials science , interpenetrating polymer network , self healing hydrogels , dual (grammatical number) , polymer network , polymer science , link (geometry) , chemistry , composite material , chemical engineering , computer science , art , engineering , computer network , literature
Semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) strategy is employed to fabricate uniform microspheres with temperature and pH dual‐responsive behavior, which is composed of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) and poly(acrylic acid) in the presence of N , N ′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as the cross‐linker. The influences of MBA amount ( M m ) on the structures and properties of the microspheres are investigated in terms of particle size, surface morphology, pH sensitivity, and thermo‐sensitivity with low critical solution temperature in the range M m = 2.5–15%. Additionally, functional group distributions in the microspheres are probed by titration and employing the Henderson–Hasselbalch equation. The results show that all the properties strongly change depending on M m . Based on transmission electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy measurements, and these properties, the M m ‐induced changes in the structures of the semi‐IPN microspheres are discussed.