SWELLING BEHAVIOR OF HYDROXYETHYLMETHACRYLATE HYDROGELS MODIFIED BY COPOLYMERIZATION WITH FURFURYL ACRYLATE

Hydrogels of biomedical interest were prepared by the free radical cop olymerization of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, H, with furfuryl acrylate , A, at low and high conversion. The microstructural analysis of the c opolymer system was carried out by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sp ectroscopy, taking into consideration statistical parameters according to the Mayo-Lewis copolymerization model. The hydration process in ph ysiological conditions was studied gravimetrically at 37 degrees C, fo llowing the kinetics of swelling of homogeneous thin films. A diffusio n mechanism based on the stress relaxation model of copolymer chains a ccounts satisfactorily for the experimental data obtained. The diffusi on coefficients determined according to the classical Fickian uptake k inetics are very sensitive to the copolymer's composition. (C) 1994 Jo hn Wiley and Sons, Inc.