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Stimuli-responsive nanocomposite gels

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Abstract

A new class of polymer hydrogels, nanocomposite hydrogels (NC gels), consisting of a unique organic (polymer)/inorganic (clay) network structure, was synthesized by in situ free-radical polymerization in the presence of exfoliated clay nanoparticles in an aqueous system. The resulting NC gels overcame most of the disadvantages associated with chemically cross-linked hydrogels, such as mechanical fragility, structural heterogeneity, and slow de-swelling rate. By using thermo-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) as a constituent polymer, NC gels with remarkable mechanical, optical, and swelling properties as well as thermo-sensitivity were obtained. The various properties of NC gels, such as transparency, gel volume, cell culturing, and surface friction changed significantly in response to the temperature and surrounding conditions. All the excellent properties and new stimuli-responsive characteristics of NC gels are attributed to the unique PNIPA/clay network structure. The thermo-sensitivities and the transition temperature can largely be controlled by varying the clay content and by the addition of solutes.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture, Japan (Grant-in-Aid 20350109).

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  1. Material Chemistry Laboratory, Kawamura Institute of Chemical Research, 631 Sakado, Sakura, Chiba, 285-0078, Japan

    Kazutoshi Haraguchi

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  1. Kazutoshi Haraguchi
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Correspondence to Kazutoshi Haraguchi.

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Haraguchi, K. Stimuli-responsive nanocomposite gels. Colloid Polym Sci 289, 455–473 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-010-2373-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-010-2373-9

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