Preparation and characterisation of gels based on sucrose modified with glycidyl methacrylate

Sugar-based hydrogels were prepared by non-selective modification of sucrose with the introduction of vinyl groups. Sucrose was reacted with glycidyl methacrylate (1:1 molar ratio) in DMSO and in the presence of 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine (4-DMAP) as catalyst. The structure of the product (SucMA) was established using H-1 NMR, H-1 DQF-COSY NMR and C-13 NMR analysis. Gels were prepared by copolymerisation of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and SucMA in a 70:30 ethylene glycol/water mixed solvent using ammonium persulphate/sodium methabisulphite pair as initiating system. The swelling behaviour of these gels was evaluated as a function of crosslinker content, copolymer composition, pH and ionic strength. In addition, the diffusional behaviour of sodium salycilate (SSA) from these gels and poly(HEMA) gels is also reported. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.