Temperature‐responsive Hydrogels Synthesized from Photo‐Polymerizable Poloxamer Macromers for Topical Skin Moisturizing

Abstract

Temperature‐responsive hydrogels were fabricated by the photo‐polymerization of bis‐acryloyl poloxamer tri‐block copolymers, and their temperature‐responsive behavior and physiological effect on skin were investigated. For this, poloxamer macromers were prepared by end‐capping both terminal hydroxyl groups of poloxamer tri‐block copolymers with acrylates. They were then photo‐polymerized to generate polymeric hydrogels with structural integrity that allowed excellent stability against dilution in an aqueous environment. The resulting hydrogels exhibited dramatic reversible swelling behavior upon changes in temperature. A demonstration experiment, in which the hydrogels were applied topically to the skin, showed that they shrank rapidly as a result of the increase in temperature, owing to the contact with the skin surface, highlighting their effectiveness for instantaneously moisturizing the skin.

A convenient platform for real‐time non‐contact thermal measurement and processing

“…[8][9][10] In general, temperature determines the phase and shape of matters, [11][12][13][14] and also affects chemical reactions and dynamic properties. [15][16][17][18] Measured temperature data provide the insight and knowledge regarding the material, in terms of stability and photothermal capability, which leads to many possibilities of new findings and breakthrough. [19][20][21][22][23] A post-processing work requires complicated and time-consuming steps to obtain meaningful results and so it will be too slow to deal with longer or continuous time scale research.…”

“…In its application, the usage of such instrument requires additional processing in form of data science, which is an activity of extracting information from a series of complex data to generate further insight 8–10 . In general, temperature determines the phase and shape of matters, 11–14 and also affects chemical reactions and dynamic properties 15–18 . Measured temperature data provide the insight and knowledge regarding the material, in terms of stability and photothermal capability, which leads to many possibilities of new findings and breakthrough 19–23 .…”