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Double‐stimuli‐responsive degradable hydrogels: interpenetrating polymer networks consisting of gelatin and dextran with different phase separation
Author(s) -
Yamamoto Nobuyuki,
Kurisawa Motoichi,
Yui Nobuhiko
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.1996.030170505
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , gelatin , dextran , polymer , interpenetrating polymer network , phase (matter) , materials science , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , polymer science , chemistry , composite material , chromatography , organic chemistry , engineering
Biodegradable interpenetrating polymer network (IPN)‐structured hydrogels consisting of gelatin (Gtn) and dextran (Dex) were prepared by sequential crosslinking reactions of Gtn and methacryloylated Dex. Phase separation of these hydrogels is dominated by preparation conditions, i.e., above or below the sol‐gel transition temperature ( T trans ) of Gtn. Enzymatic degradation by either α‐chymotrypsin or dextranase is hindered for the IPN‐structured hydrogel prepared below T trans whereas this hydrogel is perfectly degradable in the presence of both enzymes. Such a specific feature of enzymatic degradation was not observed for the hydrogel prepared above T trans . These results suggest that double‐stimuli‐responsive degradation of IPN‐structured hydrogels is related to their phase separation.