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Thermosensitive and Dissolution Properties in Nanocomposite Polymer Hydrogels
Author(s) -
Wu ChiaJung,
Schmidt Gudrun
Publication year - 2009
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.200900163
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , dissolution , materials science , polymer , copolymer , poloxamer , chemical engineering , drug delivery , nanoparticle , nanocomposite , thermoresponsive polymers in chromatography , drug carrier , phase (matter) , polymer chemistry , nanotechnology , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , reversed phase chromatography , engineering
We investigate the phase transition behavior and dissolution resistant properties of thermo‐sensitive nanocomposite hydrogels made from PEO‐PPO‐PEO triblock copolymer (Pluronic F127) and Laponite silicate nanoparticles. The rapid dissolution properties of F127 copolymer hydrogels usually limit their use as sustained release drug carriers. We overcome this limitation by synergistic combination of nanoparticle gelation characteristics with polymer thermo‐sensitivity. We present a proof of concept that the temperature‐dependent phase transitions can be shifted as a function of hydrogel composition and that the dissolution of the polymer hydrogels as well as the release of a model drug, albumin, can be significantly slowed down by addition of nanoparticles. The dissolution resistant properties generated will prove useful in the future formulation, processing and application of our polymer hydrogels for sustained release drug delivery carriers.