Reactive carriers crosslinked by multifunctional (meth)acrylic monomers

Suspension macroporous copolymers containing methyl methacrylate (MMA), but yl acrylate (BA) and vinyl acetate (VA) crosslinked with multi,functional c opolymers - trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMPMA) or trimethylolpropan e triacrylate (TMPA) - were synthesized and characterized. The copolymers w ere subjected to aminolysis by ethylenediamine in order to obtain reactive carriers with amino functionalities. The concentration of amino functionali ties in the carriers was controlled by modification conditions and the type of the copolymer. In the case of TMPMA homopolymer and copolymers containi ng MMA, the modification took place mostly on the pore surface. A decrease of pore diameter was observed. The effect was governed by the rigidity of t he trimethacrylate structure. In the case of more the flexible TMPA network and copolymers having BA and VA units, the modification with ethylenediami ne appeared in the entire volume of the network. As a consequence, the carr ier network expanded. For the same cases the modification of the copolymer (TMPA/BA/VA) resulted in the formation of hydrogels which swelling properti es were pH-controlled. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.