Designing of superporous cross-linked hydrogels containing acrylic-based polymer network

Biodegradable cross-linked polymer, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-acrylic acid was synthesized by free radical polymerization technique using N, N-methylene-bis-acrylamide as cross-linker and benzoyl peroxide as reaction initiator. FT-IR, 1H-NMR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) studies of the copolymer along with homopolymers were carried out. FT-IR studies showed no interactions on copolymerization. SEM studies of the copolymer were carried out and mean particle size was found to be 50 aem. TGA analysis indicated an increase in thermal stability by cross-linking the polymer network. Swelling behavior of the copolymer showed more swelling by increasing pH of the medum and the prepared polymer was found to be biodegradable. The prepared cross-linked polymer system holds good for further drug delivery studies in connection to its super swelling and biodegradability.S