Swelling behavior of gelatin-ionic liquid functional polymers

• Published in: Journal of polymer science. Part B, Polymer physics Vol. 51; no. 10; pp. 817 - 825
• Main Authors: de Carvalho, Rui Nuno Leitão, Torres Lourenço, Nuno Miguel, Gomes, Pedro Miguel Vidinha, da Fonseca, Luís Joaquim Pina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 15.05.2013; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Applied sciences; diffusion; Dissolution; Exact sciences and technology; gelatin; Gelatins; Hydrogels; Ionic liquids; Maturation; Natural polymers; Phosphates; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymers; Proteins; Swelling; thin films; Imidazole derivatives; diffusion; Transport properties; Swelling; Iminium compounds; Temperature effect; Physical gel; hydrogels; Experimental study; Protein; Molecule scattering; Ionic liquid; thin films; Gelatin; Kinetics; Hydrogel; ionic liquids
• ISSN: 0887-6266; 1099-0488
• DOI: 10.1002/polb.23252

In this work, hydrogels obtained by mixing gelatin with ionic liquids (ILs) are prepared. Two different ILs, [emim][EtSO4] and [bmim][N(CN)2], are used to prepare hydrogels with different amounts of starting water and phosphate buffer content, which are used after a maturation period. The percentage of swelling in water and phosphate buffer, swelling and diffusion parameters are investigated in thin‐film polymers (1 × 1 cm2; 1‐mm thick) with different maturation times and at temperatures ranging from 4 to 37 °C. [emim][EtSO4] polymers show a moderate (100% weight increase) but quick swelling that reaches 80% of the equilibrium within 30 min. They are liquefied and dissolved at temperatures above 25 °C. [bmim][N(CN)2] polymers with short maturation times exhibit a similar behavior to the former, but more mature hydrogels register a very small swelling, abnormal kinetics and are more resistant to higher temperatures. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys., 2013 Development of polymeric conducting materials is an important step when planning applications in bioelectrochemistry. In this work, biocompatible gelatin‐based hydrogels prepared with ionic liquids are characterized in terms of their swelling behavior in aqueous solutions. These polymers swell much less than hydrogels made solely with gelatin and they dissolve at temperatures above 25 °C. Hydrogel age can be an important factor that determines the maximum swelling, since one type of polymer swells substantially less as more time elapses after its preparation.