Intelligent Gels and Cryogels with Entrapped Emulsions

Abstract

Smart thermoresponsive gels and cryogels with incorporated emulsions have been synthesized and studied. The gels were obtained by three-dimensional copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide and N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide or N,N'-bis(acryloyl)cystamine in the presence of dispersion of tetradecane stabilized with sodium dodecylsulfate. Polymerization was performed at room temperature and below the water crystallization temperature. Both composite gels and cryogels were capable of heat-induced collapse. The extent of the collapse of the composite gel prepared at room temperature was much smaller and without squeezing of the lipophilic phase out of the shrunk composite gel. In contrast, shrinking of the composite cryogel was accompanied by release of tetradecane emulsion.

Non-ionic Thermoresponsive Polymers in Water

“…Pore forming agents, foaming reagents or solvent mixtures are typically used to prepare macroporous hydrogels. An alternative synthetic procedure, cryogelation, has been introduced recently for bioseparation [445][446][447][448]. Since the pore surface can be functionalized to recognize target molecules, hydrogels are suitable media for the reversible immobilization or separation of biomacromolecules.…”

Thermoresponsive Copolymer Cryogel Possessing Molecular Memory: Synthesis, Energetics of Collapse and Interaction with Ligands

“…[39] For comparison, a homopolymer NIPA cryogel was prepared using the same amount of BAC (cross-linking agent) as when synthesizing the NIPA-DMAPA cryogel.…”

Cryogels for Biotechnological Applications

“…An extreme case is the entrapment of microemulsions, which led to a preparation with one solid and one liquid phase with very different properties [79].…”