Preparation and Properties of a New Temperature-Sensitive Ionized Gel

Abstract

A temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (NIPA) gel containing dextran sulfate was synthesized. Dextran sulfate was entrapped in the crosslinked poly(NIPA). This hybrid gel showed a reversible volume change with temperature. The phase transition temperature of the hybrid gel was almost the same as that of the poly(NIPA) gel regardless of the fraction of dextran sulfate. The phase transition temperature of the ionized copolymer gel increased with the degree of gel ionization. The water-sorption capacity increased with dextran sulfate content. Exclusion and separation of proteins were found possible with hybrid gels of various dextran sulfate contents.