Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-sulfobetaine) hydrogels. II. Synthesis and swelling behaviors of the [2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-3-dimethyl (methacryloyloxyethyl) ammonium propane sulfonate] hydrogels

Abstract

A series of the 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/3-dimethyl-(methacryloyloxyethyl) ammonium propane sulfonate (HEMA/DMAPS) copolymeric gels was prepared from various molar ratios of HEMA and the zwitterionic monomer DMAPS. The influence of the amount of the zwitterionic monomer in the copolymeric gels on the swelling behaviors in water, various saline solutions, and temperature was investigated. The results indicate that the PHEMA hydrogel (D0) and lower DMAPS content of the HEMA/DMAPS copolymeric gel (D1) exhibit overshooting phenomena in the dynamic swelling behavior. The maximum overshooting value decreases with increase in temperature. In the equilibrium swelling ratio, the PHEMA hydrogel exhibits a minimum swelling ratio at 55°C. Then, the minimum swelling ratio diminishes gradually with increasing of the DMAPS content in the HEMA/DMAPS copolymeric gels. In the saline solution, the swelling ratios of HEMA/DMAPS copolymeric gels increase rapidly with increasing of concentration of the salt with a smaller ratio of the charge/radius. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.