Development of stimuli-responsive smart hydrogels using molecular imprinting and interpenetrating polymer networks

• Main Author: Oliveira, Tânia
• Publication Date: 2014
• Other Authors: Reitor, Patrícia, Oliveira, Daniela, Kadhirvel, Porkodi, Dias, Rolando, Costa, Mário Rui
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: http://hdl.handle.net/10198/10427
• topic: Molecular imprinting; Interpenetrating polymers; Stimuli-responsive; Hydrogels

Different classes of stimuli-responsive smart hydrogels (SRSH) were synthesized in order to assess the usefulness of molecular imprinting and generation of interpenetrating polymer networks to obtain advanced materials with tailored properties/performance. Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain-Transfer (RAFT) polymerisation was exploited as an additional tool to increase the control on the formation process of these materials. Batch adsorption and frontal analysis (e.g. for 3-aminopyridine (3AMP) as depicted in the graphical abstract) techniques were used to quantify the affinity of different drugs with the produced SRSH. Stimulated drug release (e.g. due to temperature/pH changes) and protein immobilisation/release were also tested. Results obtained show that molecular imprinting and generation of interpenetrating networks are effective routes to obtain tailored materials with a particular affinity to selected template molecules.