Novel synthesis of temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel with fast deswelling rate

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) is a thermosensitive hydrogel and undergoes volume changes in response to external temperature changes. In some potential applications of PNIPA hydrogel, a fast response rate is needed. Here, a novel PNIPA hydrogel was synthesized by using water/actone (v/v, 1:1) as mixed solvent during the redox polymerization/crosslinking reaction. The characterization of this PNIPA hydrogel was gravimetrically measured, and it exhibits much faster deswelling rate than that of the normal-type PNIPA hydrogel.