A series of nanocomposite hydrogels were prepared from various ratios of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and organic montmorillonite (MMT). The influence of the extent of MMT in the NIPAAm/MMT nanocomposite hydrogels on the physical properties and drug-release behavior was the main purpose of this study. The microstructure and morphology were identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the swelling ratios for these nanocomposite hydrogels decreased with increase in the content of MMT. The gel strength and Young's modulus of the gels also increased with increase in the content of MMT. XRD results indicated that the exfoliation of MMT was achieved in the swollen state. Finally, the drug-release behavior for the gels was also assessed.

SYNOPSISA series of crosslinked poly(sodium acrylate-co-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) based on sodium acrylate (SA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and N,N-methylene-bis-acrylamide (NMBA) are prepared by inverse suspension polymerization. The resultant crosslinking polymers are xerogellants. This work investigates not only the absorbency or swelling behavior for these xerogellants composed of different ratios of HEMA/SA in water, but also the effects of various salts and p H values on the swelling properties. Experimental results indicate that the absorbency in deionized water decreases with an increase in the HEMA in copolymeric gel, which is related to the degree of expansion of the network and the strength of the hydrophilic group. The absorbency in the chloride salt solutions decreases with an increase in the salt concentration (swelling is 50 times for the IA group chloride salt solutions, but is less than 5 times for the IIA group salt solution), owing to the osmosis of water and ions between the polymeric gel and the external solution. A decrease in the extent of swelling occurs for divalent and trivalent chloride salt solutions. For the salt solutions of the same ionic strength, the swelling amount has the following tendency:LiCl(aq) = NaCl(aq) = KCl(aq), CaCl,(aq) < SrCl,(aq) < BaCl,(aq), and Fe3+ > Ca2+ > Zn2+ > Cu2+. These orders are related to the complexing ability between metallic cations and the carboxylate group in the polymeric chains. Finally, the adsorption of ferric ion by these gels is also investigated.

Semi-interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) polymer gels and interpenetrating network (IPN) polymer gels with thermosensitivity were prepared by introducing a biodegradable polymer, chitosan, into the N-isopropyacrylamide (PNIPAAm) gel system. The swelling behavior, temperature sensitivity, pH sensitivity, gel strength, and drug-release behavior of PNIPAAm/chitosan semi-IPN and IPN hydrogels were investigated. The results indicated that the NIPAAm/chitosan semi-IPN and IPN hydrogels exhibited pH and temperature-sensitivity behavior and could slow drug release and diffusion from the gels. From the stress-strain curves of the hydrogels, the compression moduli of IPN gels containing crosslinked chitosan were higher than those of semi-IPN gels. This is because IPN gels have a more compact structure. The morphology of PNIPAAm/chitosan hydrogels was also investigated.

A series of novel xerogels based on sodium acrylate (NaA), montmorillonite (MMT), and N,NЈ-methylene-bisacrylamide (NMBA) were prepared by inverse suspension polymerization and water solution polymerization. The influences of pure MMT, intercalated MMT, the method of polymerization, and the content of the MMT in the copolymeric gels on the water absorbency and the initial absorption rate in deionized water and various salt solutions were investigated. Results showed that the water absorbency was increased by adding a small amount of the pure MMT into the copolymeric gels, but decreased by adding intercalated MMT into the gels. In addition, the water absorbency of the gels prepared by water solution polymerization was lower than that prepared by inverse suspension polymerization

A series of nanocomposite hydrogels for mucoadhesive were prepared from acrylic acid, poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate, and intercalated bentonite clay by photopolymerization. The microstructures were identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results showed that the swelling ratio for the present nanocomposite hydrogels decreased with an increase of bentonite, whereas the gel strength and Young ' s modulus of the present gels increased with an increase of bentonite. However, the adhesive force of the present gels did not decrease with an increase of bentonite. XRD results indicated that the exfoliation of bentonite was achieved in the xerogels and swollen gels. Finally, the drug-release behaviors for these gels were also assessed.