Novel interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels based on konjac glucomannan (KGM) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were prepared by polymerization and cross-linking of acrylic acid (AA) in the pre-fabricated KGM gel. The IPN gel was analyzed by FT-IR. The studies on the equilibrium swelling ratio of IPN hydrogels revealed their sensitive response to environmental pH value. The results of in vitro degradation showed that the IPN hydrogels retain the enzymatic degradation character of KGM.
Novel biodegradable copolymer poly(CC-co-EEP) was synthesized by ring-opening copolymerization of cyclic carbonate 9-phenyl-2, 4, 8, 10-tetraoxaspiro-[5, 5]undcane-3-one (CC) and ethylene ethyl phosphate (EEP). The obtained poly (CC-co-EEP)s were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). In vitro hydrolytic degradation of the copolymers were investigated in phosphate buffer solution (pH=7.4). Hydrophilic phosphate units apparently improved the degradability of poly(carbonate-phosphate).
