Preparation of superabsorbent polymer hydrogels from trialkyl‐4‐vinylbenzyl phosphonium chloride–acrylamide–methylenebisacrylamide terpolymers and their properties

Superabsorbent polymer gels were synthesized by terpolymerization of three kinds of tri‐n‐alkyl‐4‐vinylbenzyl phosphonium chloride (TRVB) with alkyl chains of different lengths, with acrylamide (AAm), and with N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBAAm). The water‐absorption ability and antibacterial activity of the gels against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were investigated. The water content of TRVB–AAm–MBAAm terpolymers increased with increasing phosphonium groups in the terpolymers, while the water content decreased with increasing chain length of alkyl groups in the phosphonium groups as well as an increasing degree of crosslinking in the terpolymers. The water content of the terpolymers was depressed by the addition of NaCl. The degree of effect of NaCl addition became higher as the chain length of alkyl groups in the phosphonium groups of the terpolymers became longer. The tri‐n‐octyl‐4‐vinylbenzyl phosphonium chlorides (TOVB)–AAm–MBAAm terpolymers exhibited high antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli in deionized water. The antibacterial activity decreased in 0.9 wt % NaCl solution. The antibacterial activity of TOVB–AAm–MBAAm terpolymers with almost the same phosphonium content increased with the increasing swelling ratio of the terpolymers. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 1833–1844, 2000     

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some cross‐linked copolymers with alkyl chains of various lengths

Amphoteric polymer hydrogels were prepared by the copolymerization of three kinds of N,N′‐dimethyl‐N‐alkylmethacryloxylethyl ammoniumbromide (DMAEA) with different lengths of alkyl chains (DMAEA‐RB) (R‐ehtyl/hexyl/dodecyl), acrylic acid (AA), and acrylamide (AM). The water content of the AA‐AM‐(DMAEA‐RB) terpolymers decreased with the increasing length of alkyl chains in quaternary ammonium group in the terpolymers and increased with the increasing molar ratio of DMAEA‐RB to 2 mol % and then decreased. Their antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus hyicus were investigated by a colony count method. It was found that the copolymer exhibited higher antibacterial activity with increasing chain length of alkyl groups in ammonium groups. For P[AA‐AM‐(DMAEA‐DB)], the DMAEA‐DB content is higher and contact time is longer, its antibacterial activity is better. However, when the contact time and quaternary ammonium content were above 30 min and 2%, respectively, the amount of live cells N(t) in a cell suspension increased in the presence of P[AA‐AM‐(DMAEA‐EB)] or P[AA‐AM‐(DMAEA‐HB)]. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Synthesis of water‐soluble thermosensitive polymers having phosphonium groups from methacryloyloxyethyl trialkyl phosphonium chlorides–N‐isopropylacrylamide copolymers and their functions

Water‐soluble thermosensitive polymers having phosphonium groups were synthesized by the copolymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) with methacryloyloxyethyl trialkyl phosphonium chlorides (METRs) having varying alkyl lengths. The relative viscosities of the copolymer solutions increased with increasing content of phosphonium groups in the copolymers and decreased with increasing chain length of alkyl chains in the phosphonium groups. However, the copolymers of METR with octyl groups in phosphonium groups (METO) and NIPAAm became water insoluble with increasing contents of METO moieties in the copolymers. The transmittance at 660 nm of the copolymer solutions above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) decreased gradually with increasing temperature and decreased with increasing chain length of alkyl chains in the phosphonium groups. The transmittance at 660 nm of the copolymer solutions above the LCST was greatly affected by the addition of neutral salts such as KCl. The copolymers of METR with ethyl groups in phosphonium groups and NIPAAm and those of METR with butyl groups in phosphonium groups and NIPAAm had high flocculating abilities against bacterial suspensions. The METO–NIPAAm copolymer was found to have a high antibacterial activity. The flocculating ability and the antibacterial activity of the copolymers were affected by not only the content of phosphonium groups but also the alkyl chain length in the phosphonium groups in the copolymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 386–393, 2003     

Cephazoline sodium release from poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide‐co‐N,N‐dimethylacrylamide) hydrogels

Hydrogels are hydrophilic polymers that swell to an equilibrium volume in the presence of water, preserving their shape. The dynamic swelling behavior of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐N,N‐dimethylacrylamide) [poly(NIPA‐co‐DMA)] copolymers at 37°C was investigated. It was observed that the swelling degree in the copolymers decreases with the N‐isopropylacrylamide content. In addition, the liberation mechanism was found to be Fickian. Diffusion coefficients according to Fick′s law as a function of the N‐isopropylacrylamide concentration and results of the release process are reported. The kinetics of cephazoline sodium release from poly(NIPA‐co‐DMA) hydrogels with different compositions was studied. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 3433–3437, 2004     

Thermoreversible hydrogels. VIII. Effect of a zwitterionic monomer on swelling behaviors of thermosensitive hydrogels copolymerized by N‐isopropylacrylamide with N,N′‐dimethyl (acrylamidopropyl) ammonium propane sulfonate

A series of thermosensitive hydrogels were prepared from the various molar ratios of N‐isopropylacrylamide, zwitterionic monomer, N,N′‐dimethyl (acrylamidopropyl) ammonium propane sulfonate (DMAAPS), and N,N′‐methylene‐bis‐acrylamide. The influence of the amount of DMAAPS in the copolymeric gels on the swelling behaviors in water, various saline solutions, and various temperatures was investigated. Results indicated that the higher the DMAAPS content in the hydrogel system, the higher the swelling ratio and the gel transition temperature. In the saline solution results showed that, when the salt concentration was greater than the minimum salt concentration (MSC) of poly(DMAAPS), the deswelling behavior of the N‐isopropylacrylamide gel was suppressed more effectively when more DMAAPS was added into the copolymeric gels; but the swelling ratios of the present copolymeric gels did not significantly change while the salt concentration was lower than the MSC of poly(DMAAPS). In addition, only the sample containing 12 mol % DMAAPS (D4) exhibited an antipolyelectrolyte's swelling behavior when the salt concentration was greater than the MSC of poly(DMAAPS). In other words, only when the amount of DMAAPS added into the gel is over some proportion, can the hydrogel show an antipolyelectrolyte's swelling behavior in concentrated salt solution. In saline solutions, the anion effects were greater than the cation effects in the presence of common anion (Cl⁻) with different cations and common cation (K⁺) with different cations for these gels. Finally, the more DMAAPS content in the hydrogel, the higher the diffusion coefficient in dynamic swelling. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 2170–2180, 1999     

Effect of montmorillonite on the properties of thermosensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) composite hydrogels

Thermosensitive composite hydrogels containing various amounts of sodium montmorillonite (NaMM) and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAAm) were synthesized. Their equilibrium degree of swelling (DS) was measured in NaCl solutions of different ionic strength and at various temperatures. The DS decreased when increasing the clay content and no substantial shift in the phase transition temperature was noticed. The composite hydrogels investigated had a NaMM content ranging between 1.0 and 5.7 wt % (in 0.1M NaCl at 25°C). A considerable enhancement in the response to thermal stimuli was observed for NaMM contents >2–3 wt %. It is suggested that when the NaMM concentration approaches a critical value, the clay platelets can inhibit the formation of the hydrophobic skin layer that hinders shrinking in conventional pNIPAAm hydrogels. The effect of montmorillonite on the mechanical properties of the hydrogels was investigated by uniaxial compression tests, which showed that the modulus increases with the NaMM content. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1964–1971, 2004     

Fast swelling behaviors of thermosensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐methacryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride)/Na2WO4 cationic composite hydrogels

A facile method was explored to synthesize thermosensitive poly[N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM)‐co‐methacryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (DMC)]/Na₂WO₄ cationic hydrogels via copolymerization of NIPAM and DMC in the presence of Na₂WO₄. Na₂WO₄ acted as both a physical crosslinking agent and a porogen precursor. The hydrogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray, thermogravimetry, environmental scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Effects of various salt solutions, pH solutions on swelling were investigated. Thermosensitivity of the hydrogels were also investigated in various polar solvents at different temperatures. The resultant hydrogel showed a fast swelling rate and good salt tolerance. The hydrogels reached the swelling equilibrium within 10 min. Moreover, the swelling ratio of the hydrogels increased with the increase of the polarity of the solvent. In the water, the swelling ratio decreased with the increasing of temperature, but remained at a high level even at 80 °C since the pore structure weaken the lower critical solution temperature effect of PNIPAM. The swelling ratio increased instead in low polar solvent, while it became negligible in nonpolar solvent with the increasing of temperature. The whole swelling kinetics was fit for Schott's pseudo‐second order model. The hydrogels have a great potential as catalysts and smart materials. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46375.     

Preparation and properties of a salt‐resistant superabsorbent polymer

Crosslinked sodium polyacrylate was prepared by solution polymerization with N,N‐methylene‐bisacrylamide (bisAM) as crosslinking agent; it was subsequently surface‐crosslinked by ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE) and then was modified with inorganic salt to obtain a superabsorbent with water absorbency in 0.9 wt % NaCl aqueous solution at atmosphere and applied pressure (P ≈ 2 × 10³ Pa) of 55 and 20 g.g^?1, respectively. Moreover, it also had excellent hydrogel strength. The effects of reaction temperature, reaction time, neutralization degree (ND) of acrylic acid, amount of initiator, crosslinking agent, and surface‐crosslinking agent, mass ratio of inorganic salt to initial superabsorbent, molar ratio of sodium aluminate (NaAlO₂) to potassium dihydrogen hyphosphate (KH₂PO₄) on water absorbency (WA) in 0.9 wt % NaCl aqueous, and the hydrogel modulus were investigated and optimized. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 2532–2541, 2004     

Ambipolar and multi‐electrochromic polyimides based on N,N‐di(4‐aminophenyl)‐N′,N′‐diphenyl‐4,4′‐oxydianiline

A series of novel aromatic polyimides were synthesized from N,N‐di(4‐aminophenyl)‐N′,N′‐diphenyl‐4,4′‐oxydianiline and aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides through a conventional two‐step procedure. Most of the polyimides exhibited reasonable solubility in organic solvents and could afford robust films via solution casting. The polyimides exhibited high thermal stability, with glass transition temperatures in the range 227–273 °C and 10% weight‐loss temperatures in excess of 550 °C. All the polyimide films showed ambipolar redox and multi‐electrochromic behaviors. They exhibited two reversible oxidation redox couples at 0.94–0.98 and 1.09–1.12 V versus Ag/AgCl in acetonitrile solution. A coupling reaction between the radical cations of the pendent triphenylamine units occurred during the oxidative process forming a tetraphenylbenzidine structure which resulted in an additional redox state and color change. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation and swelling behavior of macroporous poly(acrylamide‐co‐sodium methacrylate) superabsorbent hydrogels

Macroporous superabsorbent hydrogels (SAHs) composed of acrylamide (AAm) and sodium methacrylate (NMA) were prepared by aqueous solution polymerization in the presence of a glucose solution. Their swelling capacity was investigated as a function of the concentrations of the glucose solution, sodium methacrylate, crosslinker, initiator, and activator. The porosity of the poly(acrylamide‐co‐sodium methacrylate) superabsorbent hydrogels was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy. The SAHs were characterized by IR spectroscopy. To estimate the effect on the swelling behavior, three types of crosslinkers were employed: N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide, 1,4‐butanediol diacrylate, and diallyl phthalate. Network structural parameters such as initial swelling rate, swelling rate constant, and maximum equilibrium swelling were evaluated by water absorption measurement. The equilibrium water content (EWC%) of the AAm–NMA macroporous SAHs was found to be in the range of 93.31–99.68, indicating that these SAHs may have applications as biomaterials in the medicinal, pharmaceutical, and veterinary fields. Most of the SAHs prepared in this investigation followed non‐Fickian‐type diffusion, and few followed a case II– or super–case II‐type diffusion. The diffusion coefficients of these macroporous SAHs were investigated. Further, the swelling behavior of these SAHs also was investigated at different pHs and in different salt solutions and simulated biological fluids. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 3202–3214, 2006     

Swelling and elasticity of poly (N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐4‐vinyl benzene sulfonic acid sodium salt) hydrogels

The mechanical properties and the swelling behavior of hydrogels based on N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) and 4‐vinylbenzenesulfonic acid sodium salt (styrene sulfonate, SSA) monomers were investigated. The mole fraction of SSA in the comonomer feed varied between 0 and 1, whereas the crosslinker ratio was fixed at 1/85. Both the swelling and the elasticity data of the hydrogels swollen in water show that they are in the non‐Gaussian regime. The exponents found for the charge density dependence of the equilibrium swelling ratio as well as for the volume dependence of the gel elastic modulus are in good agreement with the predicted course of the non‐Gaussian elasticity of swollen hydrogels. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 135–141, 2004     

Preparation and performance of thermosensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels by frontal photopolymerization

In this study, frontal photopolymerization was applied to the fabrication of thermosensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) hydrogels. The influence of experimental conditions and reactant components on the feature of the polymerization front was investigated. The morphology of the samples indicated the successful preparation of PNIPAm hydrogels. The mechanical properties and thermal stability of the obtained hydrogels are discussed. The results indicated that the performance of the hydrogels is related to their microstructure and the type of crosslinkers. The swelling behavior and drug delivery ability were determined under different temperature conditions. The hydrogels exhibit a classical thermoresponsive behavior, which was also demonstrated by the DSC results. Therefore, frontal photopolymerization can be an alternative method for the preparation of PNIPAm hydrogels under mild conditions. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Development and characterization of thermosensitive hydrogels based on poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) and calcium alginate

This work refers to the synthesis and characterization of thermosensitive hydrogels based on interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and calcium alginate in the form of films. The influence of the crosslinking degree of PNIPAAm and alginate content on thermal, swelling, mechanical, and morphological properties of hydrogels is investigated in detail. Characterization of pure PNIPAAm hydrogels and IPN hydrogels was performed by FTIR, DSC, DMA, and SEM. In addition, the studies of equilibrium swelling behavior as well as swelling, deswelling, and reswelling kinetics are performed. The results obtained imply the benefits of synthesizing IPNs based on PNIPAAm and calcium alginate over pure PNIPAAm hydrogels. The presence of calcium alginate contributes to the improvement of mechanical properties, the deswelling rate of hydrogels, and the network porosity, without altering the thermosensitivity of PNIPAAm significantly. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Synthesis and characterization of radio‐opaque thermosensitive poly[N‐isopropylacrylamide‐2,2′‐(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine)‐2,3,5‐triiodobenzamide]

BACKGROUND: In situ gelling polymers, like poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (poly(NIPAAm)), have many potential medical applications due to their biocompatibility and thermosensitivity. RESULTS: Radio‐opaque thermosensitive poly(NIPAAm) grafted with 10.7 wt% 2,2′‐(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine)‐2,3,5‐triiodobenzamide was successfully synthesized and characterized. The conjugated polymer showed good visibility with X‐ray fluoroscopy. The polymer had a lower critical solution temperature of 30 °C after conjugation with triiodobenzamide as determined by cloud point determination and a transition peak temperature of 33.3 ± 0.57 °C as determined by differential scanning calorimetry. CONCLUSION: The polymer synthesized was highly visible under X‐rays, based upon the percentage incorporation of triiodobenzamide. After conjugation of the NIPAAm to the triiodobenzamide through a bis(ethylamine) linkage, the resultant polymer retained lower critical solution temperature characteristics in a temperature region that makes it physiologically useful. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Thermoresponsive hydrogels based on sucrose 1‐O′‐methacrylate and N‐isopropylacrylamide: Synthesis,properties, and applications

Chemically crosslinked hydrogels composed of carbohydrate‐based and thermoresponsive monomers, sucrose 1‐O′‐methacrylate (SMA), sucrose dimethacrylate, and N‐isopropylacrylamide, respectively, were synthesized by free radical polymerization. These materials were characterized with respect to their composition, thermoresponsiveness, porosity, degradability, and as drug and protein delivery systems. Swelling studies, thermomechanical analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry showed that the lower critical solution temperature behavior of the hydrogels can be controlled by the SMA amount in the copolymers. On the other hand, thermoporometry showed that the pore size is somewhat dependent on the composition, which is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Hydrolytic degradation studies indicated that SMA side chains, as well as the crosslinker (sucrose dimethacrylate), are hydrolysable at corporeal temperature and pH 10, and the water swelling capability of the resulting materials increases as the hydrolysis degree increases. Finally, protein delivery studies revealed that the kinetics of release can be tailored by the copolymer composition. The results of this study suggest the potential application of these hydrogels in drug delivery systems and tissue engineering. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 45495.     

Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐poly(ethylene glycol))‐acrylate simultaneously physically and chemically gelling polymer systems

In an effort to create an in situ physically and chemically cross‐linked hydrogel for in vivo applications, N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) was copolymerized with poly(ethylene glycol)‐monoacrylate (PEG‐monoacrylate) and then the hydroxyl terminus of the PEG was further modified with acryloyl chloride to form poly(NIPAAm‐co‐PEG) with acrylate terminated pendant groups. In addition to physically gelling with temperature changes, when mixed with a multi‐thiol compound such as pentaerythritol tetrakis 3‐mercaptopropionate (QT) in phosphate buffer saline solution of pH 7.4, this polymer formed a chemical gel via a Michael‐type addition reaction. The chemical gelation time of the polymer was affected by mixing time; swelling of the copolymer solutions was temperature dependant. Because of its unique gelation properties, this material may be better suited for long‐term functional replacement applications than other thermo‐sensitive physical gels. Also, the PEG content of this material may render it more biocompatible than similar HEMA‐based precursors in previous simultaneous chemically and physically gelling materials. With its improved mechanical strength and biocompatibility, this material could potentially be applied as a thermally gelling injectable biomaterial for aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation (AVM) occlusion. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Drug complexation and physicochemical properties of vinylpyrrolidone‐N,N′‐dimethylacrylamide copolymers

Solid dispersions of the nonsteriodal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) 2′,4′‐difluoro‐4‐hydroxy‐(1,1′‐biphenyl)‐3‐carboxylic acid (DIF) with the water‐soluble random copolymer poly(N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone‐co‐N,N′‐dimethylacrylamide) (VP‐co‐DMAm) were prepared by the solvent method (coevaporates) and melting DIF/VP‐co‐DMAm (cofused) physical mixtures. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) were used to elucidate the possible interaction between the NSAID drug and VP‐co‐DMAm in cofused and coevaporated polymer–drug solid dispersions. The XRD and FTIR studies suggest the presence of physical interactions with formation of a charge transfer complex between DIF and the VP‐co‐DMAm copolymers as a consequence of the coevaporation or cofusion processes. In solution, dynamic and equilibrium solubility studies were determined to elucidate the mechanism of interaction between DIF and VP‐co‐DMAm copolymers. Thermodynamics data about the DIF: VP‐co‐DMAm dissolution process indicate that the coevaporated systems are more stable that the cofused systems. The dissolution of the cofused and coevaporated systems was diffusion controlled and the dissolution kinetics followed the Noyes–Whitney and the Levich equations. Molecular simulations using semiempirical quantum chemical calculations reinforce the experimental results, suggesting that the improvement in the DIF solubility could be attributed to the charge transfer complex formation between the drug and VP‐co‐DMAm copolymers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1337–1347, 2004     

Radiation crosslinking and sorption properties of hydrogels based on 1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone,hydroxyethyl methacrylate,and their copolymers

This work has been concerned with the synthesis of the hydrogels of poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (NVP), poly (hydroxy ethylmethacrylate) (HEMA), and their copolymer under the effect of gamma radiation in the presence of N,N‐methylenebisacryl‐amide (MBAm) as a crosslinking agent. The effect of the different factors that may affect the gelation and yield product, such as solvent composition and irradiation dose, was investigated. The formed hydrogels were characterized in terms of swelling in water and different organic solvents, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and IR spectroscopic analysis. The sorption capability of these hydrogels towards some commercial basic and acid dyesstuffs was also studied. The results showed that a solvent mixture composed of equal contents of water and methanol is the most suitable to afford the minimum sol fraction and the highest yield product at a minimal irradiation dose of 10 kGy. It was observed that NVP hydrogel displayed the highest swelling in water, alcohols, and dimethyformamide of ～1300% and a lower tendency to swell in nonpolar solvents. The results showed that HEMA hydrogel has a high affinity to absorb basic dyes while NVP has a tendency for acid dyes. Also, the sorption of either the basic or acid dyes by the different hydrogels was found to greatly depend on the concentration of dye in solution and the mass of the used hydrogel. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 3274–3280, 2004     

Thermoreversible hydrogels X: Synthesis and swelling behavior of the (N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropyl sulfonate) copolymeric hydrogels

A series of thermosensitive hydrogels were prepared from various molar ratios of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and sodium‐2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropyl sulfonate (NaAMPS). Factors such as temperature and initial total monomer concentration and different pH solutions were investigated. Results indicated that the more the NaAMPS content in hydrogel system, the higher the swelling ratio and the gel transition temperature; the higher the initial monomer concentration, the lower the swelling ratio. The result also indicated that the NIPAAm/NaAMPS copolymeric hydrogels had different swelling ratios in various pH environments. The present gels showed a pH‐reversible property between pH 3 and pH 10 and thermoreversibility. The swelling ratios of copolymeric gels were lower in a strong alkaline environment because the gels were screened by counterions. Finally, the drug release behavior of these gels was also investigated in this article. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 1760–1768, 2000     

The structure characterization of thermosensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate) hydrogel

The goal of this work was to investigate a possible way of crosslinking polymer chains and the potential formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds in thermosensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate) (p(NIPAM‐HPMet)) hydrogels obtained by radical polymerization. The chemical structure of the synthesized hydrogels was investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and XRD. The FTIR spectrum confirmed the presence of hydrogen bonds formed between the chains in the copolymer. XRD analysis confirmed the amorphous ? crystalline structure of the copolymer. A three‐glass transition and two melting temperatures were detected by DSC. It was found that the addition of HPMet increased the glass transition and melting temperatures of the p(NIPAM‐HPMet) copolymer. The swelling transport mechanism of p(NIPAM‐HPMet) changed from non‐Fickian at 20 °C to case III or zero‐order time‐independent kinetics characterized by a linear mass uptake with time with increasing temperature at 40 °C. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry