Photo-crosslinked polyaspartamide hybrid gel containing thermo-responsive Pluronic triblock copolymer

Thermo-responsive hybrid hydrogels based on biodegradable poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl-DL-aspartamide) (PHEA) and Pluronic were prepared by photo-crosslinking of their methacryloyl (MA) derivatives in aqueous solution. Pluronic component is expected to exhibit, so called, reverse thermal gelation behavior within the swollen gel matrix. Swelling properties of hybrid gels and their dependence on the different MA content and the medium temperature were investigated. In addition the thermo-responsive change in the morphology of porous gels was observed by SEM.