pH–thermoreversible hydrogels. II. Synthesis and swelling behaviors of N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid-co-sodium acrylate hydrogels

A series of pH–thermoreversible hydrogels are prepared from the three molar ratios of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and acrylic acid neutralized 50 mol % by sodium hydroxide (SA50) and N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide (NMBA). The influence of the environmental conditions, such as temperature and pH values, on the swelling behavior of these copolymeric gels is also investigated in this article. Results show that the hydrogels bearing negative charges exhibit different equilibrium swelling ratios under various pH media. The pH sensitivities of these gels also strongly depend on the molar ratio of SA50 in the copolymeric gels; thus, the more the SA50 content, the higher the gel pH sensitivity. These hydrogels exhibited thermosensitivity demonstrating a larger change of the equilibrium swelling ratio in aqueous media under temperature changes. An overshooting phenomenon is observed from the gel swelling kinetics under high-temperature conditions. The said hydrogels are also used to investigate the release of model drugs in this study. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 1955–1967, 1999     

Thermoreversible hydrogels VI: Swelling behavior of the (N-isopropylacrylamide-co-diethyl methyl methacryloyloxyethyl ammonium iodide) copolymeric hydrogels in aqueous salt solutions

A series of N-isopropylacrylamide/diethyl methyl methacryloyloxyethyl ammonium iodide (NIPAAm/DEMMAI) copolymeric gels were prepared from blending NIPAAm, cationic monomer DEMMAI, and N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide (NMBA) in various molar ratios in this article. The effects of the amount of the cationic monomer in the copolymeric gels on the swelling behaviors in water and various saline solutions at various temperatures were investigated. Results showed that the swelling ratios of copolymeric gels were significantly larger than those of pure NIPAAm gel, and that the more the DEMMAI content, the higher the gel transition temperature. In the saline solution, results showed that the swelling ratio for pure NIPAAm gel had not changed significantly with an increase of the salt concentration until the salt concentration was larger than 0.1 M. The swelling ratios for the copolymeric gels NIPAAm/DEMMAI were decreased with increasing salt concentration. In various saline solutions, results showed that the anionic effects were greater than cationic effects in the presence of common anion with different cations and common cation with different anions for these hydrogels. Finally, we also tested the reversibility of the NIPAAm/DEMMAI copolymeric gels. The deswelling and reswelling kinetics were dependent on the temperature which was below or above the gel transition temperature. The gel with a small DEMMAI content has a good reversibility.     

pH‐thermoreversible hydrogels. I. Synthesis and swelling behaviors of the (N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐acrylamide‐co‐2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) copolymeric hydrogels

A series of pH‐thermoreversible hydrogels that exhibited volume phase transition was synthesized by various molar ratios of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), acrylamide (AAm), and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). The influence of environmental conditions such as temperature and pH value on the swelling behavior of these copolymeric gels was investigated. Results showed that the hydrogels exhibited different equilibrium swelling ratios in different pH solutions. Amide groups could be hydrolyzed to form negatively charged carboxylate ion groups in their hydrophilic polymeric network in response to an external pH variation. The pH sensitivities of these gels also depended on the AAm content in the copolymeric gels; thus the greater the AAm content, the higher the pH sensitivity. These hydrogels, based on a temperature‐sensitive hydrogel, demonstrated a significant change of equilibrium swelling in aqueous media between a highly solvated, swollen gel state and a dehydrated network response to small variations of temperature. pH‐thermoreversible hydrogels were used for a study of the release of a model drug, caffeine, with changes in temperature. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 71: 221–231, 1999     

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     

Thermoreversible hydrogels. II. Effect of some factors on the swelling behavior of N,N-dimethylacrylamide and n-butoxymethyl acrylamide copolymeric gels

A series of thermoreversible hydrogels are prepared from the various molar ratios of N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA), n-butoxymethyl acrylamide (nBMA), and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (NMBA). The influences of the amount of DMA in the copolymeric gels, temperature, and polymerization media on the swelling behaviors in water are investigated. Results indicate that the higher the DMA content in the hydrogel systems the higher the swelling ratio and the gel transition temperature. The effects of the gel thickness on the swelling ratio for DMA/nBMA copolymeric gels indicate that the equilibrium swelling time and diffusion coefficient for the thinner gel (1.5 mm) from the dried state to the completely swollen state are obviously faster than are those for the thicker gels (2.0 and 3.5 mm). The effects of the different polymerization media on the swelling ratio for DMA/nBMA copolymeric gels also show that the larger the solvent molecular size and the poor miscibility of the monomer and solvent the higher the swelling ratio and the diffusion coefficient. The drug release in these copolymeric gel systems are also investigated. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polm Sci 65:909–916, 1997     

Thermoreversible hydrogel. V. Synthesis and swelling behavior of the N-isopropylacrylamide-co-trimethyl methacryloyloxyethyl ammonium iodide copolymeric hydrogels

A series of N-isopropylacrylamide/trimethyl methacryloyloxyethyl ammonium iodide (NIPAAm/TMMAI) copolymeric gels are prepared from the various molar ratios of NIPAAm, cationic monomer TMMAI, and N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide (NMBA) in this article. The influences of the amount of the cationic monomer in the copolymeric gels on the swelling behavior in water, various saline solutions, and various temperatures are investigated. Results show that the swelling ratios of copolymeric gels are significantly larger than those of pure homopolymer NIPAAm gel, and the more the TMMAI content, the higher the gel transition temperature. In the saline solution, results show that the swelling ratio of pure NIPAAm gel has not significantly changed with an increase of the salt concentration until the salt concentration is larger than 0.1M. The swelling ratios for the copolymeric gels NIPAAm/TMMAI decrease with increasing salt concentration. In various saline solutions, results show that the anionic effects are greater than cationic effects in the presence of common anion, different cations and common cation, and different anions for these hydrogels. Finally, we also tested the reversibility of the NIPAAm/TMMAI copolymeric gels. The deswelling and reswelling kinetics are dependent on the temperature, which is below or above the gel transition temperature. The gel with little TMMAI content has a good reversibility. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 1793–1803, 1998     

Synthesis and characterization of pH- and/or temperature-sensitive hydrogels

A series of pH-sensitive hydrogels that exhibit volume phase transition phenomena have been synthesized in aqueous solution and characterized with respect to their dynamic swelling behaviors. Positively charged hydrogels were prepared by copolymerizing varying ratios of N-isopropylacrylamide and NN′-dimethylaminopropylmethacrylamide. The hydrogels based on a temperature-sensitive hydrogel demonstrate a large change of equilibrium swelling in response to small variations of pH and/or temperature. These hydrogels exhibit different lower critical solution temperature (LCST) ranges depending on the environmental pH values. Below their LCST, they exhibit small and broad pH sensitivities normally observed in most hydrophilic polyelectrolyte gels, but above their LCST, they exhibit sharp pH dependent phase transition behaviors. The pH-dependent phase transition is strongly affected by temperature, while the temperature-dependent transition is, in turn, largely influenced by the pH. As the temperature is raised, the transitional degree of gel swelling change becomes sharper and larger, and the phase transition pH value shifts to a lower pH. It was also found that swelling is faster than deswelling for these cationic hydrogels, which suggests the existence of a water diffusion barrier during the deswelling. The swelling kinetics of initially dry and glassy gels were strongly dependent on both the pH value and temperature.     

Thermoreversible hydrogels. XV. Swelling behaviors and drug release for thermoreversible hydrogels containing silane monomers

Three series of thermosensitive copolymeric hydrogels were prepared from [3‐(methacryloyloxy)propyl]trimethoxysilane (MPTMOS), [2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethoxy]trimethylsilane (METMS), and (methacryloyloxy)trimethylsilane (MTMS), referred to as the silane monomer, and N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) by solution polymerization. The influence of the structures and amounts of silane monomers on the swelling and drug‐released behaviors were studied. The results showed that, because of the hydrophobicity of the silyl group, the more silane monomers in the copolymeric hydrogels the lower was the swelling ratio of the gels. The hydrophobicity of the silyl group affected the swelling mechanism, which resulted from the non‐Fickian diffusion for the gels. The copolymeric gels clearly exhibited gel transition temperatures. The copolymeric hydrogels could be applied to a drug‐release and drug‐delivery system. The delivery amount would approach a steady state after three cycle operations of delivery. The gels also showed an on–off switch behavior on drug release depending on the temperature, and the gels released more CV with the gels in a swollen state. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 2523–2532, 2002     

Thermoreversible hydrogels XI: Effect of salt on the swelling properties of the (n‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropyl sulfonate) copolymeric hydrogels

The swelling behavior for a series of NIPAAm/NaAMPS copolymeric hydrogels with polyelectrolytic and thermosensitive properties was investigated in various saline solutions. The swelling ratios for the present copolymeric hydrogels were affected by the saline solution, which is the result of the neutralization of the cations in the external solution with the negative charges on the polymeric side chains. The adsorption of aniline by the gels increased when the temperature was higher than the gel transition temperature, and this result showed that, when the gels were in hydrophobic state, the hydrophobic organic molecules were more easily adsorbed onto the gels. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 1675–1684, 2001     

Swelling and drug‐release behavior of the poly(AA‐co‐N‐vinyl pyrrolidone)/chitosan interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels

A series of novel hydrogels were prepared from acrylic acid (AA), N‐vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP), and chitosan by photopolymerization. The swelling behavior, gel strength, and drug release behavior of the poly(AA/NVP) copolymeric hydrogels and corresponding interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels were investigated. Results showed that the swelling ratios for the present hydrogels decreased with an increase of NVP content in the gel, but the gel strength increased with an increase of NVP content in the gel. Results also showed that the drug‐release behavior for the gels is related to the ionicity of drug and the swelling ratio of the gel. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 2135–2142, 2004     

pH‐reversible hydrogels. IV. Swelling behavior of the 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐acrylic acid‐co‐sodium acrylate copolymeric hydrogels

A series of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and sodium acrylate (SA50) copolymeric gels were prepared from HEMA and the anionic monomer SA50 with various molar ratios. The influence of SA50 on the copolymeric gels on their swelling behavior in deionized water at different temperatures and various pH buffer solutions was investigated. Results indicated that the poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) hydrogels exhibited an overshooting phenomenon in their dynamic swelling behavior. The maximum overshooting value decreased with increasing of the temperature. The same results were also found in the HEMA/SA50 copolymeric gels with a lower SA50 content. On the contrary, the overshooting phenomenon for HEMA/SA50 copolymeric gels with a higher content of SA50 was exhibited only under higher temperature (over 35°C). These copolymer gels were used to assess drug release and drug delivery in this article. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 1360–1371, 2001     

Poly[2-(hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-co-(sulfobetaine)]s hydrogels: 1. Synthesis and swelling behaviors of the 2-(hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-co-2-(vinyl-1-pyridinium propane sulfonate) hydrogels

A series of the 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/2-vinyl-l-pyridinium propane sulfonate (HEMA/VPPS) copolymeric gels have been prepared from HEMA and zwitterionic monomer VPPS of various molar ratios. The influence of the amount of VPPS in copolymeric gels on their swelling behavior in water and various saline solutions at different temperatures was investigated. Results indicate that the PHEMA hydrogels exhibit an overshooting phenomenon in their dynamic swelling behavior. The maximum overshooting value decreases with increasing temperature. The same results are also shown for the lower VPPS content HEMA/VPPS copolymeric gels. In the equilibrium swelling ratio, the PHEMA hydrogel exhibits a minimum swelling ratio at 55 °C. Then, the minimum swelling ratio disappears gradually with increasing VPPS content in HEMA/VPPS copolymeric gels. In the saline solution, the swelling ratios of HEMA/VPPS copolymeric gels increase rapidly with increasing salt concentration, for salts with a smaller ratio of charge/radius.     

Synthesis and swelling properties of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐1‐vinyl‐3‐(3‐sulfopropyl)imidazolium betaine hydrogels

A series of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate/1‐vinyl‐3‐(3‐sulfopropyl)imidazolium betaine (HEMA/VSIB) copolymeric gels were prepared from various molar ratios of HEMA and the zwitterionic monomer VSIB. The influence of the amount of VSIB in copolymeric gels on their swelling behavior in water and various saline solutions at different temperatures and the drug‐release behavior, compression strength, and crosslinking density were investigated. Experimental results indicated that the PHEMA hydrogel and the lower VSIB content (3%) in the HEMA/VSIB gel exhibited an overshooting phenomenon in their dynamic swelling behavior, and the overshooting ratio decreased with increase of the temperature. In the equilibrium water content, the value increased with increase of the VSIB content in HEMA/VSIB hydrogels. In the saline solution, the water content for these gels was not affected by the ion concentration when the salt concentration was lower than the minimum salt concentration (MSC) of poly(VSIB). When the salt concentration was higher than the MSC of poly(VSIB), the deswelling behavior of the copolymeric gel was more effectively suppressed as more VSIB was added to the copolymeric gels. However, the swelling behavior of gels in KI, KBr, NaClO₄, and NaNO₃ solutions at a higher concentration would cause an antipolyelectrolyte phenomenon. Besides, the anion effects were larger than were the cation effects in the presence of a common anion (Cl^?) with different cations and a common cation (K⁺) with different anions for the hydrogel. In drug‐release behavior, the addition of VSIB increased the drug‐release ratio and the release rate. Finally, the addition of VSIB in the hydrogel improved the gel strength and crosslinking density of the gel. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 2888–2900, 2001     

Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-sulfobetaine) hydrogels. II. Synthesis and swelling behaviors of the [2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-3-dimethyl(methacryloyloxyethyl)ammonium propane sulfonate] hydrogels

A series of the 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/3-dimethyl-(methacryloyloxyethyl)ammonium propane sulfonate (HEMA/DMAPS) copolymeric gels was prepared from various molar ratios of HEMA and the zwitterionic monomer DMAPS. The influence of the amount of the zwitterionic monomer in the copolymeric gels on the swelling behaviors in water, various saline solutions, and temperature was investigated. The results indicate that the PHEMA hydrogel (D0) and lower DMAPS content of the HEMA/DMAPS copolymeric gel (D1) exhibit overshooting phenomena in the dynamic swelling behavior. The maximum overshooting value decreases with increase in temperature. In the equilibrium swelling ratio, the PHEMA hydrogel exhibits a minimum swelling ratio at 55°C. Then, the minimum swelling ratio diminishes gradually with increasing of the DMAPS content in the HEMA/DMAPS copolymeric gels. In the saline solution, the swelling ratios of HEMA/DMAPS copolymeric gels increase rapidly with increasing of concentration of the salt with a smaller ratio of the charge/radius. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 2021–2034, 1998     

Thermoreversible hydrogels. IX. Swelling behaviors of thermosensitive hydrogels copolymerized by N‐isopropylacrylamide with 1‐vinyl‐3‐(3‐sulfopropyl) imidazolium betaine

A series of thermosensitive hydrogels were prepared from the various molar ratios of N‐isopropylacrylamide, 1‐vinyl‐3‐(3‐sulfopropyl) imidazolium betaine (VSIB), and N,N′‐methylene‐bis‐acrylamide. The influence of the amount of VSIB in the copolymeric gels on the swelling behaviors in water, in various saline solutions, and at various temperatures was investigated. The results indicated that the higher the VSIB content in the hydrogel system, the higher the swelling ratio and the gel transition temperature. In the saline solution the results showed that when the concentration of salt is higher than the minimum salt concentration (MSC) of poly(VSIB), the deswelling behavior of the copolymeric gel was more effectively suppressed as more VSIB was added to the copolymeric gels. In addition, only the sample containing 12 mol % VSIB (V4) exhibited an antipolyelectrolyte's swelling behavior when the concentration of salt was higher than the MSC of poly(VSIB). This means that the swelling ratio of the hydrogel can be improved with a higher concentration salt solution. In addition, the anion effects were larger than the cation effects in the presence of a common anion (Cl⁻) with different cations and a common cation (K⁺) with different anions for the hydrogel. Finally, the more VSIB in the hydrogel, the higher the diffusion coefficient in dynamic swelling. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 14–23, 2000     

Thermoreversible hydrogels XIII: Synthesis and swelling behaviors of [N-isopropylacrylamide-co-sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropyl sulfonate-co-N,N-dimethyl(acrylamido propyl) ammonium propane sulfonate] copolymeric hydrogels

A series of copolymeric hydrogels were prepared from various molar ratios of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), sodium-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropyl sulfonate (NaAMPS) and N,N′-dimethyl(acrylamido propyl) ammonium propane sulfonate (DMAAPS). The swelling behaviors of these copolymeric hydrogels were investigated in various saline solutions. The result showed that the phase transition temperatures of these gels changed insignificantly, and the thermosensitivity, in contrast, diminished. In addition, the copolymer gels exhibited polyelectrolytic behavior under lower salt concentration (10⁻⁵∼10⁻¹ M), exhibited a nonionic gel (like NIPAAm) behavior at the salt concentration from 0.1 to 0.4 M, and showed an antipolyelectrolytic behavior (polyzwitterionic effect) at a salt concentration over 0.4 M. Finally, the presented coplymeric gels are investigated for use in drug release application.     

Thermoreversible hydrogels. I. Synthesis and effect of a hydrophobic monomer on swelling behaviors of thermoreversible gels prepared by copolymerizing N-alkoxyalkylacrylamide with butyl acrylate

A series of copolymeric gels were prepared from N-alkoxyalkylacrylamide and n-butyl acrylate (BA) at various feed ratios. The effect of the content of BA in the copolymer on the gel behaviors is discussed. The respective crosslinked copolymer exhibits a gel transition behavior, collapsing and shrinking above gel transition temperature but swelling and reexpanding below gel transition temperature. By utilizing this character, these copolymeric gels could be used for drug release or drug delivery systems. The drug released from the copolymeric gels was plotted as M_t/M_∞ versus t, where M_t/M_∞ is the fraction of drug released at given time t. In this experiment, crystal violet and caffeine were chosen as model drugs. The deswelling-kinetics experiments with caffeine showed that a water pocket was formed within the gel matrix when the gel deswelled rapidly. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 64: 1477–1484, 1997     

Synthesis of biodegradable thermo- and pH-responsive hydrogels for controlled drug release

Novel intelligent hydrogels composed of biodegradable and pH-sensitive poly(l-glutamic acid) (PGA) and temperature sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PNH) were synthesized and characterized for controlled release of hydrophilic drug. The influence of pH on the equilibrium swelling ratios of the hydrogels was investigated. A higher PNH content resulted in lower equilibrium swelling ratios. Although temperature had little influence on the swelling behaviors of the hydrogels, the changes of optical transmittance of hydrogels as a function of temperature were marked, which showed that the PNH part of hydrogel exhibited hydrophobic property at temperature above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The biodegradation rate of the stimuli-sensitive hydrogels in the presence of enzyme was directly proportional to the PGA content. Lysozyme was chosen as a model drug and loaded into the hydrogels. The in vitro drug release experiment was carried out at different pH values and the release data suggested that both the pH and PNH content played important roles in the drug release behaviors of the hydrogels.     

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 porosigen and hydrophobic monomer on the fast swelling–deswelling behaviors for the porous thermoreversible copolymeric hydrogels

A series of porous thermoreversible copolymeric hydrogels were prepared from N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and hydrophobic monomers such as 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5‐octafluoropentyl methacrylate (OFPMA) and n‐butyl methacrylate (BMA) and CaCO₃ or poly(ethylene glycol) 8000 (PEG8000) as porosigen by emulsion polymerization. The effect of hydrophobic monomers and porosigens on the fundamental properties, such as equilibrium swelling ratio, swelling kinetics, gel strength, crosslinked densities, etc., and fast swelling–deswelling behavior for the present copolymeric hydrogels were investigated. Results showed that the deswelling rates for the gels porosigened by CaCO₃ were more rapid than those gels foamed by PEG8000. Results also showed that the swelling rates for the gel foamed by CaCO₃ were higher than those for the gel foamed by PEG8000. At the same time, results also showed that the gels with OFPMA foamed by CaCO₃ exhibit a faster swelling–deswelling behavior than those gels with BMA. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 3152–3160, 2006