Stimuli pH‐responsive (N‐vinyl imidazole‐co‐acryloylmorpholine) Hydrogels; Mesoporous and Nanoporous Scaffolds

Abstract Tunable mesoporosity and nanoporosity of stimuli pH‐responsive (N‐vinyl imidazole‐ran‐acryloylmorpholine) hydrogels studied in terms of %swelling at various ionic strength, pH, temperature, and crosslinker concentration values were investigated. Hydrogel properties including diffusional exponent, number of links between two crosslinks, rms end‐to‐end distance and mesh size of gels were evaluated. The structural sequence of the scaffolds was tested and verified using Kelen–Tudos technique, and Alfrey–Price relationship. Hydrogels were characterized using FTIR, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and freeze‐dried Scanning electron micrographs techniques. The reversible pH responsiveness and possible mesoporous and nanoporous (i.e., 0.88–4.03 nm) structures suggest their suitable candidate in membrane technology and/or is an adequate drug delivery vehicle in drug delivery systems. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A:, 2012.