Dynamic Fluctuations of Thermoresponsive Poly(oligo-ethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate)-Based Hydrogels Investigated by Dynamic Light Scattering

The dynamics of thermoresponsive and biocompatible gels was investigated using dynamic light scattering. The gels were copolymerized by two types of ethylene glycol methacrylates having short and long hydrophilic side chains consisting of ethylene oxide units. Their dynamics was decomposed to fast and slow modes. The critical temperature was determined from the fast mode (cooperative diffusion) and was controlled lineally by the copolymerization ratio of the two monomers, which is one of the advantages in the gel system. The formation mechanism of hydrophobic domains in the gels was investigated from the slow mode. The hydrophobic domains grew in the gels by rising temperature, and they were copolymerization ratio dependent. The domain formation was suppressed as the copolymerization ratio of the longer side chain was increased. The results of this study should lead to new design strategy for the bioapplications, including drug delivery systems that require a retention of their smart functions.