Characterizing pore sizes and water structure in stimuli-responsive hydrogels

Conference · Fri Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:141734

Hoffman, A S; Antonsen, K P; Ashida, T; Bohnert, J L; Dong, L C; Nabeshima, Y; Nagamatsu, S; Park, T G; Sheu, M S; Wu, X S; Yan, Q ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)

Hydrogels have been extensively investigated as potential matrices for drug delivery. In particular, hydrogels responsive to pH and temperature changes have been of greatest interest most recently. Proteins and peptide drugs are especially relevant for delivery from such hydrogel matrices due to the relatively {open_quotes}passive{close_quotes} and biocompatible microenvironment which should exist within the hydrogel aqueous pores. The large molecular size of many proteins requires an interconnected large pore structure. Furthermore, the gel pore {open_quotes}walls{close_quotes} should not provide hydrophobic sites for strong interactions with proteins. In the special case of ion exchange release the protein would be attracted by opposite charges on the polymer backbones. Therefore, it is important both to control and to characterize the pore structure and the water character within a hydrogel to be used or protein or peptide drug delivery. This talk will critically review techniques for estimating these two key parameters in hydrogels.

• OSTI ID: 141734
• Report Number(s): CONF-930304--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
40 CHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
GELS
HYDRATION
PORE STRUCTURE