Studies on the synthesis and properties of temperature responsive and biodegradable hydrogels

Novel linear poly(NIPA-co-CL) copolymers have been synthesized by radical copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) and 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (MDO). The structure of copolymers was confirmed by H-1 NMR and IR spectroscopy. Cross-linked poly(NIPA-co-CL) hydrogels have also been prepared in toluene using N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide as cross-linking agent. The hydrogels thus obtained exhibit good temperature response and are biodegradable in the presence of proteinase K.