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Chitosan‐PEG Hydrogel with Sol–Gel Transition Triggerable by Multiple External Stimuli
Author(s) -
Tsao Ching Ting,
Hsiao Meng Hsuan,
Zhang Mengying Y.,
Levengood Sheeny Lan,
Zhang Miqin
Publication year - 2015
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.201400586
Subject(s) - chitosan , ethylene glycol , polymer , materials science , self healing hydrogels , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , peg ratio , composite material , finance , engineering , economics
Smart hydrogels play an increasingly important role in biomedical applications, since materials that are both biocompatible and multi‐stimuli‐responsive are highly desirable. A simple, organic solvent‐free method is presented to synthesize a biocompatible hydrogel that undergoes a sol–gel transition in response to multiple stimuli. Methoxy‐poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) is modified into carboxylic‐acid‐terminated‐methoxy‐poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG‐acid), which is then grafted onto chitosan via amide linkages yielding mPEG‐ g ‐chitosan. Grafting of mPEG onto hydrophobic chitosan imparts hydrophilic properties to the resultant polymer. The mPEG‐ g ‐chitosan gel exhibits a controllable multi‐stimuli‐responsive property. The balance between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity is believed to confer mPEG‐g‐chitosan with stimuli‐responsive behavior. The effect of salt concentration, solute concentration, temperature, and pH on the sol–gel transition of mPEG‐ g ‐chitosan is evaluated and the underlying mechanisms of mPEG‐ g ‐chitosan polymer packing and gelation property is discussed.