Preparation and characterization of sodium alginate/poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide)/clay semi-IPN magnetic hydrogels

pH- and temperature-responsive semi-interpenetrating magnetic nanocomposite hydrogels (NC hydrogels) were prepared by using linear sodium alginate (SA), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with inorganic clay as an effective multifunctional cross-linker. The effects of cross-linker and SA contents on various physical properties were investigated. The NC hydrogels exhibited a volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) around 32 °C with no significant deviation from the conventional chemically cross-linked PNIPAM hydrogels (OR hydrogels). The swelling ratios of NC hydrogels were much larger than those of OR hydrogels. Moreover, the swelling ratios of NC hydrogels gradually decreased with increasing the contents of clay and increased with increasing the contents of SA. The pH sensitivity of NC hydrogels was evident below their VPTT. The NC hydrogels had a much better mechanical property than the OR hydrogels. The results showed that the incorporation of clay did not affect the saturation magnetization of the hydrogels.