Thermoresponsive hydrogels based on sucrose 1‐O′‐methacrylate and N‐isopropylacrylamide: Synthesis, properties, and applications

Abstract

Chemically crosslinked hydrogels composed of carbohydrate‐based and thermoresponsive monomers, sucrose 1‐O′‐methacrylate (SMA), sucrose dimethacrylate, and N‐isopropylacrylamide, respectively, were synthesized by free radical polymerization. These materials were characterized with respect to their composition, thermoresponsiveness, porosity, degradability, and as drug and protein delivery systems. Swelling studies, thermomechanical analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry showed that the lower critical solution temperature behavior of the hydrogels can be controlled by the SMA amount in the copolymers. On the other hand, thermoporometry showed that the pore size is somewhat dependent on the composition, which is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Hydrolytic degradation studies indicated that SMA side chains, as well as the crosslinker (sucrose dimethacrylate), are hydrolysable at corporeal temperature and pH 10, and the water swelling capability of the resulting materials increases as the hydrolysis degree increases. Finally, protein delivery studies revealed that the kinetics of release can be tailored by the copolymer composition. The results of this study suggest the potential application of these hydrogels in drug delivery systems and tissue engineering. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45495.

Macroporous hydrogels based on carbohydrates monomethacrylates and dimethacrylates: singular properties from carbohydrate‐based crosslinkers

“…For instance, hydrogels prepared in aqueous solution (concentration not specified) of glucose acrylamide and crosslinked with 0.1% w / v (0.01 mol%) of glucose biscrylamide present a swelling coefficient of 407%, while hydrogels prepared in aqueous solution at 15 wt% of methylgalactose acrylate and crosslinked with 0.1 mol% of methylgalactose diacrylate showed a swelling ratio at equilibrium of 1103% . However, hydrogels based on disaccharide monomers, such as sucrose (meth)acrylates, and crosslinked with a sucrose‐based crosslinker tends to present higher swelling coefficient, reaching values higher than 2500% as reported by de Menezes et al . and by Patil et al ., for crosslinker concentrations of 1.0 mol% and 2.0 mol%, respectively.…”

“…For macroporous materials, however, an overlap of melting peaks of water located in pores with different diameters do not allow estimating of pore size/pore size distribution by using thermoporometry. However, the presence of peak or shoulder at lower temperature, compared with neat water, is an indication of the porous nature of the hydrogels . The width of the water melting peak (Δ T = T endset – T onset ) reflects the distribution of pore size.…”

“…Since the synthesis of carbohydrate‐based polymers and hydrogels by the chemo‐enzymatic route reported by Dordick and coworkers, many monomers, crosslinkers and polymeric materials based on carbohydrates (named glycopolymers) have been prepared . In this context, our research group has been investing great efforts in developing new polymeric materials based on carbohydrates, such as polymers, copolymers and hydrogels based on fructose, glucose and sucrose methacrylates …”

“…[6][7][8][9] In this context, our research group has been investing great efforts in developing new polymeric materials based on carbohydrates, such as polymers, copolymers and hydrogels based on fructose, glucose and sucrose methacrylates. [10][11][12][13][14] The carbohydrate moieties in glycopolymers are capable of playing some specific biological interactions, such as interactions between glucose moieties with the lectin Concanavalin A [15][16][17] and interactions between fructose moieties with the glucose receptor GLUT5 (receptor overexpressed in the cell membrane of mammalian cancer cells). [18][19][20] Moreover, hydrophilic polymers such as polysaccharides and glycopolymers present anti-fouling properties that diminish protein and bacterial adhesion, avoiding platelet adhesion, inflammation, device failure, blood clots, and so on.…”

“…28,29 Applications reported in the literature for hydrogels based on carbohydrate are mainly related to drug delivery systems. 12,[30][31][32][33][34][35][36] However, they have also been used as stationary phase in high-performance liquid chromatography 37 and as cell culture media. 38 Crosslinking agents play a key role on the mechanical and physical chemical properties of the hydrogels.…”