Double responsive copolymer hydrogels prepared by frontal polymerization

ABSTRACT Frontal polymerization was successfully used to synthesize copolymer hydrogels of poly( N ‐vinylcaprolactam‐ co ‐itaconic acid). All materials were characterized by response to stimuli (pH and/or temperature), depending on the itaconic acid content. Namely, relatively low amounts of this latter were found to be crucial for determining the degree of swelling. In particular, hydrogels behave differently if swollen at pH values that are higher or lower of 7–8, and exhibit temperature response as well (lower critical solution temperature at ca. 30 °C), which makes these materials potentially interesting for biomedical applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54 , 2166–2170