Magnetic Nanoparticles Trapped in pH 7 Hydrogels as a Tool to Characterize the Properties of the Polymeric Network

Hydrogels are expected to have important applications as biomaterials, while the dispersion of nanoparticles in such polymeric matrices can provide optical or electrical properties. Here is described the inclusion of Fe2O3 nanoparticles in several hydrogels. Analysis of the resulting magnetic polyacrylamide gels includes their ability to swell in aqueous solution (the Figure shows such a gel before and after swelling).