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Purpose To assess a single-piece monofocal hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) with hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) (Clareon, Alcon Laboratories, Inc.) contained in automated preloaded delivery system (AutonoMe, Alcon Laboratories, Inc.). Setting Eighteen surgical sites in Japan. Design Observational study. Methods In patients undergoing phacoemulsification and IOL implantation of a new hydrophobic acrylic IOL using an automated injector, clinical data were collected preoperatively and at 1 day, 1 week, and 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The degree of glistenings was graded on a four-point scale. The surgeons rated usability and performance of the IOL delivery system on a five-point scale. Results The study enrolled 384 eyes of 384 patients, ranging in age from 41 to 93 (73.8 ± 8.2, mean ± standard deviation) years old. The percentage of eyes with corrected distance visual acuity of 20/25 or better at 1 day, 1week, and 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively was 82.6%, 91.9%, 92.8%, 96.6%, and 95.2%, respectively. Refractive error was within 1.0 diopter in approximately 90% of cases. No glistenings were found in all cases throughout the study period. The rate of Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy was 0.9 % at 1 year. The IOL delivery system received high ratings on its usability and performance by the surgeons. Conclusions The new hydrophobic acrylic IOL with HEMA showed excellent visual and refractive outcomes without developing glistenings throughout the 1-year study period. The surgeons gave high marks for usability and performance of the automated preloaded delivery system.

Alkaloid toxicities negatively impact livestock health and production. To assess alkaloid occurrences, adsorbent technologies may offer effective means to their extraction and isolation from a complex feed matrix. In this study, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were synthesized and evaluated for their specificity of binding to various ergot alkaloids. Co-polymers of styrene and hydroxyethyl methacrylate were synthesized in the absence or presence of an ergotamine (ETA) template, yielding non-imprinted polymer (NIP) and molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), respectively. The influence of parameters such as pH, temperature, and initial concentration on the adsorption of ergot alkaloids was evaluated along with their application as solid phase extraction materials. Chemical and morphological properties were characterized. Adsorption was generally greater for MIP compared to NIP. Cross-reactivity with related alkaloids existed due to similarities in structure and functional groups and was dependent on the type and concentration of alkaloid and polymer type (alkaloid type × concentration × product; P < 0.05). The pH of the medium had no influence on the binding properties of polymers toward ETA within a pH range of 2–10. Binding was independent of temperature between 36 and 42 °C. When kinetics of adsorption were evaluated, the Langmuir isotherm had a better fit (R2 > 0.95) to adsorption equilibrium data than the Freundlich equation. The maximum amounts adsorbed (Qo) from the Langmuir model were 8.68 and 7.55 μM/g for MIP and NIP, respectively. Fourier transform infrared, scanning and tandem electron microscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis confirmed a highly porous MIP structure with a greater surface area compared to NIP. Binding characteristics evaluated with computational strategy using molecular docking experiments and in vitro in a complex media (rumen fluid) indicated a stronger ETA adsorption by the tested composition selected among other polymeric materials and affinity of MIP compared with NIP. This study suggested the possible utility of MIP as a solid phase extraction sorbent for applications in analytical chemistry or sensing devices tailored to track ergot alkaloid incidence and the fate of those alkaloids in complex ruminal digestive samples.

Silicon rubber has been widely used in the biomedical field due to its excellent mechanical properties and physiological inertia. However, the hydrophobic properties of silicon rubber surfaces limit their further application. Therefore, constructing a silicon rubber coating with hydrophilic and low-friction surface properties would be highly significant. Existing methods to achieve such coatings, including grafting polymer brushes and the deposition of hydrophilic materials, suffer from several deficiencies such as complicated coating processes and insufficient coating firmness. In this paper, we report a hydrophilic polymer poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) coating that can easily coat the surface of silicon rubber to provide low-friction performance. Sample silicon rubber was treated with benzophenone and hydroxyethyl methacrylate monomer solution in turn. The as-prepared coating was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, white light interference, and MFT-5000 wear test. The results indicated that the PHEMA coating had excellent hydrophilic properties (with a low contact angle of 9.39°) compared to uncoated silicon rubber. As the concentration of glycerol in the monomer solution was increased, the thickness and surface roughness of the as-prepared coating gradually decreased. The coating was firmly adsorbed on the substrate, and it had a zero-class bonding strength. In addition, the as-prepared coating demonstrated good friction-reduced properties, with the coefficient of friction being reduced by 98.0% compared with the uncoated silicon rubber in simulated blood. In summary, a hydrophilic and low-friction coating was successfully prepared using a simple method, and the results reported herein provide valuable insight into the surface design of similar soft materials.

Carbamylation of blood proteins is a common post-translational modification that occurs upon kidney dysfunction that is strongly associated with deleterious outcomes for patients treated using hemodialysis. In this study, we focused on the removal of two representative carbamylated plasma proteins, carbamylated albumin (cHSA) and fibrinogen (cFgn), through adsorption onto a surface functionalized with a specific peptide (cH2p1). Surfaces modified with poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (p(HEMA)) were prepared using surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) techniques and functionalized with cH2p1. cH2p1-functionalized surfaces showed selective binding toward cHSA and cFgn, compared to their native protein form, with NH-cH2p1 of superior selectivity than CO-cH2p1. The adsorption capacity of carbamylated protein on NH-cH2p1 was maintained in diluted plasma, and ultralow adsorption of native Fgn was observed. Similar to unmodified p(HEMA) surfaces, NH-cH2p1 showed a low platelet adhesion and activation, suggesting that the designed surface does not adversely affect platelets.

Bioactive polymeric nanocomposites are indispensable materials and have received great attention owing to their diverse applications in human body. In this study, a poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) complex was prepared using hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as a base material and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMPTA) and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as cross-linking agents. The pHEMA nanocomposites were prepared by melt processing technique. In this process, a twin screw extruder machine was used. Twin screw extrusion is used extensively for mixing, compounding, or reacting polymeric materials. The flexibility of twin screw extrusion equipment allows this operation to be designed specifically for the formulation being processed. The nanocomposites of pHEMA/TiO2 and pHEMA/TiO2/GO were synthesized using pHEMA as a matrix with the addition of a small amounts of titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO2 1 wt%) and graphene oxide (GO 0.1 wt%) as reinforcement materials. The thermomechanical study of pHEMA/TiO2 and pHEMA/TiO2/GO nanocomposites was carried out via thermogravimetric (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), micro-indentation, micro-scratch, and FTIR analyses, and compression testing. The microstructural characterization of the nanocomposites was studied by FESEM and XRD analysis. Significant changes in microstructural behavior with improved thermomechanical properties were observed in pHEMA/TiO2 and pHEMA/TiO2/GO nanocomposites as compared to pure pHEMA. In this work, pure pHEMA and pHEMA/TiO2 and pHEMA/TiO2/GO nanocomposites were studied for dental applications.

In this study, a selective, rapid and sensitive surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor is prepared for real time detection of tartrazine in fruit juice. Tartrazine imprinted and non-imprinted poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate-N-methacryloyl-(L)-histidine methyl ester) thin films are synthesized onto SPR chip surface using ultraviolet polymerization. The characterization studies of tartrazine imprinted and non-imprinted SPR sensors are performed with contact angle measurements, atomic force microscopy and ellipsometry. Then, kinetic studies for tartrazine are carried out in the concentration range of 0.5–100.0 $\mu \text{M}$ . The response time for adsorption, desorption and regeneration cycles is approximately about 15 min for the optical sensor system. The limit of detection and quantification are obtained as $0.0076~\mu \text{M}$ and $0.0252~\mu \text{M}$ , respectively. The selectivity studies of the tartrazine imprinted and non-imprinted SPR sensors are determined in the presence of allura red and sunset yellow molecules. In order to demonstrate the applicability, validation studies of tartrazine imprinted SPR sensor are performed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

Background/Purpose 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) is one of the most major components in dentin bonding systems. Uncured HEMA is eluted through the dentin and harmful to pulp cells. The study aimed to investigate the death pattern, morphological change and factors of human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) cultured with low-dose HEMA. Methods HDPCs were cultured with low-dose concentration of HEMA at 0 mM (control), 0.125 mM, 0.25 mM, 1 mM, 2 mM and 4 mM on Day 3 and 5. The cell morphology was observed with F-actin immunocytochemical staining. The flow cytometry was used to analyze the death pattern. NF-κB and Trx-1 were measured using ELISA kits. Results The major death pattern was early apoptosis and late apoptosis. The morphological characteristics of apoptosis were observed clearly at 4 mM on Day 3 and Day 5. The phosphorylated NF-κB normalized to total NF-κB protein was significantly higher at 2 mM and 4 mM on Day 5. There was no difference of Trx-1 on Day 3, but significantly higher at 0.25 mM and 1 mM on Day 5. The trend line of phosphorylated NF-κB and Trx-1 showed highly positive correlations with HEMA concentration. Conclusion The significant cellular morphology characteristics of apoptosis can be observed at higher dose and longer period after exposed to uncured HEMA. The expression of NF-κB was following the ratio of late apoptosis at longer exposure period. Clinically, the remaining dentin thickness should be enough to decrease HEMA concentration and thus to protect pulp cells free from harm.

Purpose A kind of the Z-6020/E-44 modified waterborne hydroxyl acrylate resin (Z-WEA) and its application in volatile organic compound-free waterborne coatings were prepared. Design/methodology/approach The Z-6020/E-44 modified waterborne hydroxyl acrylate resin (Z-WEA) was obtained dropwise by adding a mixed solution of methyl methacrylate, n-butyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, acrylic acid and an initiator into a pre-prepared solution of isopropyl alcohol and E-44 and by semi-continuous solution polymerization, and this chain was further extended with organosiloxane (Z-6020) through graft copolymer, which was then neutralized with organic base and dispersed with water, with waterborne amino resin curing agent to form a film, and the properties were tested. Findings The results showed that when the dosage of initiator was 2.5% accounts for the total acrylic monomer, the hydroxyl content was 10%; the dosage of E-44 was 16%; the dosage of Z-6020 was 6%; the mass ratio of hard and soft monomer was 2.0:1; the neutralization was 100%; Z-6020/E-44 modified waterborne hydroxyl acrylate resin (Z-WEA) had excellent dispersion performance in water and storage stability; water absorption of cured film was 7.8%; pencil hardness reached 5H; adhesive force was 1 level; and the film was uniform and endowed with remarkable heat resistance, high gloss and good fullness. Practical implications This paper established a method to synthesize Z-6020/E-44 modified waterborne hydroxyl acrylate resin (Z-WEA) with green surfactants that can be used in the coatings, adhesives, finishing agents and so on. Originality/value This paper provides a method of preparing Z-6020/E-44 modified waterborne hydroxyl acrylate resin (Z-WEA) and with waterborne amino resin curing agent to form a film, and the film is uniform and endowed with remarkable heat resistance, high gloss and good fullness and meets the requirements of high-grade paint.

In this study, different ratios of poly (hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-hydroxyethyl acrylate) hydrogels (HEMA-co-HEA), corresponding to (100/0, 70/30, 60/40, 50/50, 40/60, 30/70, and 0/100) were successfully prepared by free radical polymerization leading to tunable drug release materials for therapeutic soft contact lenses (SCLs) applications. The microstructures of the materials were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and their thermal properties were examined with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analyses. The results showed that the presence of HEA in the hydrogels matrix improved the materials’ microstructure and enhanced the swelling capacity in a 0.9% NaCl solution (pH = 5.5) at 37 °C. Furthermore, in vitro study of the loading and release of acetazolamide, as a model drug, showed a non-Fickian drug release behavior for all the studied hydrogels, whereas the highest drug release/loading capacity was observed for the hydrogel ratio HEMA/HEA of 40/60. Therefore, it can be concluded that the corresponding hydrogel is a promising curative SCLs material for a sustainable drug release application.

A bifronted cure system for osteosarcoma, a common aggressive bone tumor, is highly in demand to prevail the postsurgical adversities in connection with systemic chemotherapy and repair of critical-size bone defects. The hierarchically porous therapeutic scaffolds presented here are synthesized by free radical-initiated copolymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate [HEMA/MMA 80:20 and 90:10 mM, H2O/NaCl porogen], which are further surface-phosphorylated [P-PHM] and transformed to bifunctional by impregnating doxorubicin (DOX) [DOXP-PHM]. The P-PHM scaffolds exhibited porous microarchitecture analogous to native cancellous bone (scanning electron microscopy analysis), while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis authenticated surface phosphorylation. Based on pore characteristics, swelling attributes and slow-pace degradation, P-PHM9163 and P-PHM8263 (HEMA/MMA 90:10 and 80:20 with H2O/NaCl: 60/3.0 weight %, respectively) were chosen from the series and evaluated for osteoinductive efficacy in vitro. Both P-PHM9163 and P-PHM8263 invoked calcium phosphate mineralization in simulated physiological conditions (day 14) with Ca/P ratios of 1.58 and 1.66 respectively, comparable to human bone (1.67). Early biomineralization (Alizarin Red S and von Kossa staining) was evidenced at day 7, while osteoblast differentiation was verified by time-dependent expression of the typical late marker, osteocalcin, at day 14 and 21 in rat bone marrow mesenchymal cells. DOX-loaded P-PHM9163 (DOXP-PHM9163) exhibited pH-responsive (tumor analogous pH; 6.5) sustained release of DOX for prolonged time (up to 45 days) and invoked cellular alterations by cortical stress fiber formation and DNA fragmentation in human osteosarcoma cells leading to early apoptosis (24 h), validated by annexin V/PI staining (FACS) and immunostaining (F-actin/DAPI). Subsequent to DOX release tenure, the scaffold induced the formation of well-organized, porous post-release Ca-P apatite coating (Ca/P is 1.3) in simulated body fluid (day 14) which further endorses the dual functionality of the system. Altogether, the results accentuate that DOXP-PHM9163 is a potential bifunctional therapeutic scaffold capable of extended localized chemotherapeutic delivery in-line with inherent osteogenesis for efficient bone cancer treatment.

Nanohydrogels (NHs) are novel and attractive carriers for various anticancer factors delivery. The objective of present study is development of a safe NH for pH responsive delivery of methotrexate (MTX). Herein, poly (hydroxyethyl methacrylate) is utilized as the main structure, which is cross-linked with poly(ethyleneglycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA) through reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization technique. After synthesis, the developed structure is characterized using different methods, including 1H NMR, FT-IR, size exclusion chromatography, transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The results confirm successful synthesis of the NH with acceptable yield and nano scale mean size of 194 nm. Methotrexate is conjugated with the aforementioned structure through pH responsive esteric bond. The efficiency of the prepared NH in loading and release of the anticancer drug, methotrexate, is tested. The developed NH shows great potential in methotrexate loading, as well as a faster release rate of methotrexate in acidic pH. The results of in vitro toxicity assessment on MCF-7 as a breast cancer cell line reveal an improved cytotoxicity induction by the methotrexate loaded particles when compared with the free MTX molecules. The suitable size (

Two-hybrid products of bentonite intercalated carbohydrate polymers (chitosan ( BE.P.CH ) and 2- hydroxyethyl methacrylate/methyl methacrylate copolymer (BE/P.HEMA/MMA)) were synthesized as enhanced adsorbents for methyl parathion pesticide (MPP). The intercalation processes induced the affinity and the capacity of bentonite achieving the best value at pH 8. The maximum MPP adsorption capacities of BE (287.3 mg/g), BE/P.CH (634.5 mg/g), and BE/P.HEMA-MMA (868.5 mg/g) obtained after 300 min, 240 min, and 360 min, respectively. The kinetic properties of BE follow the Pseudo-second order behavior (R2 = 0.93) while BE/P.CH and BE/P.HEMA-MMA are of Pseudo-First order behavior (R2 > 0.92). Based on the equilibrium studies, the three products are of Freundlich isotherm behavior (R2 > 0.9) and the uptake is of multilayer forms on heterogeneous surfaces. The Gaussian energies (>8 KJ/mol), Gibbs free energies (>20 to 40 to

A visible light-induced living polymerization of a hydrophilic model monomer was initiated on organic silane monolayers using isopropylthioxanthone (ITX). The type II photoinitiator ITX was covalently introduced to the octadecyltrichlorosilane monolayers by UV-induced (254 nm) hydrogen abstraction and a subsequent coupling step through recombination. The resulting dormant isopropylthioxanthone semi-pinacol (ITXSP) groups can be reactivated by irradiation with visible light to initiate a controlled surface grafting polymerization. Using this surface-initiated polymerization approach, hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was polymerized under visible light irradiation (385 nm) at room temperature. The polymer layer thickness depends linearly on the irradiation time, which is in good agreement with previous reports on the living characteristics of the polymerization reactions. It is possible to accurately control the thickness of the grafted layer by simply altering the irradiation time.

Developing sustainable 3D printing materials has attained intensive interest due to the rapid growth of the 3D printing industry and the concerns on depletion of fossil resources and environmental pollution. In this work, a novel biobased UV-curable oligomer (GMAESO) was firstly synthesized from epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and gallic acid (GA) via a ‘green’ one pot method. The obtained biobased oligomer possessed a biobased content of 82.9%. By co-photopolymerization of the obtained oligomer with a hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) diluent, a series of UV-curable materials were prepared, and their properties as well as curing behaviors were investigated. Notably, the resulting GMAESO resins with high HEMA contents (50–60%) showed low viscosities (52–93 mPa s) and excellent thermal and mechanical properties (a Tg of 128–130 °C, Tp >430 °C, a tensile strength of 42.2–44.4 MPa, etc.) which were comparable or superior to a commercial product. Furthermore, the optimal resin (GMAESO with 50% HEMA) was used for digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing. The resin showed lower penetration depth (0.277 mm) than the commercial resin, thus different-structured objects with high resolution were successfully printed. In general, the developed bio-based UV-curable resins are very promising for application in the 3D printing industry.

The role of polymers has played a crucial role in developing templates that can promote regeneration as tissue-engineered matrices. The present study aims to develop functional matrices involving the protein mucin. The mucin used in this study is characterised using MALDI-TOF TOF and CD spectroscopy prior to conjugation. Thereupon, a hybrid scaffold comprising of a polysaccharide, chitosan, chemically conjugated to a protein, mucin, and encapsulated with montmorillonite is developed. Grafting of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) is done to overcome the issue of mechanical weakness that mucin hydrogels usually undergo. It was observed that the presence of montmorillonite led to the stability of the hydrogels. The conjugations with varied ratios of the polysaccharide and protein were characterized using spectroscopic techniques. The prepared gels showed appreciable material properties in terms of water uptake and porosity. Hydrogels with different ratios of the polysaccharide and protein were evaluated for their biocompatibility. The biological evaluation of the hydrogels was performed with MC3T3E1 and C2C12 cell lines indicating their potential for wider tissue engineering applications.

Single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) is employed to gain insight into reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization processes with living characteristics on glass surfaces. Surface-initiated (SI)-RAFT was selected to grow poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA). After aminolysis of the RAFT chain termini, thiol moieties serve as anchoring points for the gold tip of an atomic force microscope. The results allow to directly monitor the macromolecular growth of the surface-initiated polymerization. The obtained SMFS-based molecular weight distribution data of the polymers present on the surface indicate that the RAFT chain extension proceeds linearly with time up to high conversions. The current study thus adds SMFS as a valuable tool for the investigation of SI-RAFT polymerizations.

Objectives Non-biodegradable particles comprising hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMPT) have been reported as useful carriers for fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2). They have also been successfully incorporated into the 4-[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethoxycarbonyl]phthalic anhydride/methyl methacrylate-tri-n-butyl borane (4-META/MMA-TBB) resin to promote tissue regeneration. However, smaller particles are required to obtain restorative materials acceptable for clinical use. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of the 4-META/MMA-TBB resin that comprises small FGF-2-loaded particles to release FGF-2 and promote cell proliferation. In addition, the bonding and physical properties of the experimental resin were evaluated. Methods The small particles loaded with FGF-2 were newly fabricated and incorporated into the commercial 4-META/MMA-TBB resin. Release profiles of FGF-2 from the experimental resins were assessed, and the cell proliferation cultured with the eluate was evaluated. The bonding and physical properties of the resins were evaluated using shear bond strength and three-point bending tests, and by measuring the curing time, water absorption, and water dissolution. Results Sustained release of FGF-2 from the experimental resins for two weeks was observed, and the released FGF-2 was demonstrated to promote cell proliferation. All bonding and physical properties of the 4-META/MMA-TBB resins were found acceptable for clinical use. Significance The small FGF-2-loaded particles incorporated into the 4-META/MMA-TBB resin had the same abilities to release FGF-2 and proliferate cells, as those exhibited by the conventionally sized particles. In addition, there were no adverse influences on bonding and physical properties, suggesting that the bioactive adhesive resin was acceptable for clinical use.

Recently, 3D cryogels with the interconnected macropore structure have gained great attention owing to their immense application potential in wastewater cleanup. Here, we fabricated a pure poly(vinyl imidazole) cryogel through improved cryogelation method, adding the pre-freezing–thawing step, which reduced the temperature difference between the different positions of the precursor solution during reaction. Compression experiments showed that the prepared 3D cryogel featured a robust underwater elastic performance. The adsorption capacity of Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II) ions from aqueous solutions by the poly(vinyl imidazole) cryogel was explored. The results showed the specific adsorption of Cu(II), in which the adsorption capacity and removal efficiency reached 148 mg/g and 99.99%, respectively. The adsorption capacity was 58 times higher than that of the reported poly(vinyl imidazole) cryogel which was prepared using hydroxyethyl methacrylate as the comonomer frameworks. In the reusability studies, the cryogel exhibited accumulating Cu(II) ions performance and excellent regeneration capability, making it a promising adsorbent for Cu(II) removal.

Water-soluble polymers can be used as key ingredients of both drilling fluids for virgin fields and polymer-enhanced oil recovery in underperforming reservoirs. The efficacy of hydrophobically associating heteropolymer (HAH-Polymer) as an agent for petroleum resource recovery was examined in this study. The hydrophobically associating heteropolymer (HAH-Polymer) comprising acrylamide, sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate and lauryl methacrylate was synthesized in micellar medium by free-radical polymerization. The hydrophobically associating heteropolymer (HAH-Polymer) was characterised by FTIR and 1H NMR spectral analyses. The effects of temperature, pH and shear on the solution behavior of the HAH-Polymer were also examined. Rheological and fluid loss properties of HAH-Polymer-incorporated water-based drilling fluids were assessed. The HAH-Polymer improved the thermal stability between 25 and 160 °C of the drilling mud and maintained mud fluid loss of 8.4–8.6 cm3 compared with the polymer-free blank of 43.5–107.0cm3. In a salt-contaminated mud, the heteropolymer enhanced rheological properties and significantly reduced API filtration loss to 7.6–8.8 cm3 after hot aging between 25 and 150 °C. Under high temperature–high pressure filtration testing of muds, the HAH-Polymer demonstrated excellent fluid loss reduction by providing about eightfold fluid loss control (14.7 cm3) compared to the polymer-free blank (113.2 cm3) at 150 °C.

Herein, we demonstrate electrochromism of charged inverse opal photonic gel (IOPG) in aqueous solution for full color reflective display. Opal-templated polymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate with ionizable monomer and subsequent etching formed the IOPG exhibiting a structural color by Bragg diffraction of light. The IOPG contained acrylic acid (AA) (or vinyl imidazole (VI)) that can be ionized above the pKa (or below the pKb) of the gel. Application of 4 V bias induced apparent color changes of the AA-IOPG from red to green due to decreased osmotic pressure within the IOPG near the ITO surface. It was revealed that the local pH change by water-splitting under voltage bias is the main driving force for IOPG deswelling. The blue shift of the colors during voltage ON was found to be faster than the red shift at voltage OFF due to the electrophoretic migration of protons. The VI-IOPG, which swells at low pH due to a positively charged hydrogel, showed a slight red shift of the reflective color by voltage ON and blue shift upon when voltage OFF. The reproducible color changes of AA-IOPG upon the repeated ON/OFF bias clearly showed that the IOPG can be a promising candidate for a reflective display.

Tetrahydrofurfuryl-methacrylate (THFM) and hydroxypropyl-methacrylate (HPM) were used to partially or fully replace HEMA in experimental RMGICs. The experimental materials were compared with home and commercial products in terms of degree of conversion, polymerization shrinkage and exotherm.Two commercial RMGICs used were Fuji-Plus (FP, GC, Japan) and RelyX-Luting (RX, 3M-ESPE, USA). Two additional in-house liquids were prepared based on the commercial materials liquids. Eight experimental liquid compositions (F1, F2, F3 and F4 based on Fuji-Plus; R1, R2, R3 and R4 based on RelyX-Luting) were prepared replacing 100% HEMA with HPM in F1 and R1 or 70%/30% HPM/THFM in F2 and R2. 50% HEMA was replaced with THFM in F3 and R3 compared to 30% in F4 and R4. All liquids were mixed with the corresponding commercial powder. Degree of conversion was determined using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Polymerization shrinkage and exotherm were measured using the bonded-disk method.Compositions containing HPM (F1 and R1) showed lower degree of conversion compared to experimental compositions containing THFM, home and commercial materials (p0.0001). FP-commercial showed significantly higher polymerization shrinkage and exotherm compared to all other materials in both groups (p0.0001). FP-commercial showed higher degree of polymerization shrinkage and exotherm at 5min compared to all materials due to the incorporation of an additional cross-linker (glycerol-dimethacrylate). In general, compositions containing THFM, presented polymerization shrinkage and degree of conversion values similar to their corresponding commercial products.THFM monomer showed promising results and could be potentially useful in the development of new RMGICs with improved properties.

PURPOSE To investigate the clinical outcomes after implantation of a new hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) with hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) at 1 year and 9 years postoperatively. SETTING Three surgical sites in Japan. DESIGN Prospective case series and retrospective review. METHODS In 110 eyes of 110 patients who underwent phacoemulsification and implantation of a new hydrophobic acrylic IOL (Clareon CNA0T0), clinical data were collected preoperatively and at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively. Of these eyes, 20 eyes of 20 patients were examined at 9 years postoperatively, and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and clarity of the IOL were evaluated. RESULTS All 110 patients (110 eyes) completed every follow-up examination up to 12 months postoperatively. At 12 months, a CDVA of 20/30 and 20/20 was obtained in 110 (100%) and 101 (91.8%) of 110 eyes, respectively. The contrast sensitivity function was better than or similar to the age-matched normal controls, and there was no case of posterior capsule opacification requiring a laser treatment. Glistenings and surface light scattering were not seen in any of these cases. At 9 years postoperatively, a CDVA of 20/40, 20/30, and 20/20 was attained in 20 (100%), 19 (95%), and 14 (70%) of 20 eyes, respectively. One eye (5%) was treated with laser capsulotomy for posterior capsule opacification. There was no case of glistenings and surface light scattering. CONCLUSIONS This mid-term and long-term study indicated that the new hydrophobic acrylic IOL with HEMA was safe and effective with excellent postoperative vision. Glistenings and surface light scattering did not develop with this IOL in contrast to its predecessor.

Poly hydroxyethyl methacrylate (p-HEMA) has a natural property that is very easy to absorb a liquid or solution and become a hydrogel when absorbing water. In this work, by combining p-HEMA material with a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC), the material can absorb the solution and the optical properties of the liquid crystal will change depending on the solution it absorbs. The solution used in this work is acetone. During the absorption process the p-HEMA material expanded so that the orientation direction of liquid crystal molecular twist with a helical axis along can freely move and change. In this work, we observed the study of transmittance caused by thickness effect and the mixture concentration effect of the poly hydroxyethyl methacrylate liquid crystals (PHM-LC).

Dyes wastewater has caused some severe environmental problems; thus, it is necessary to develop new materials that can stably and efficiently purify dyes wastewater. In this work, polyethyleneimine...

Objective The aim of this study was to incorporate sol–gel-derived bioactive glass as filler into experimental adhesive resins and evaluate the influence of glass composition on the physicochemical and biological properties of the developed adhesives. Materials and methods Sol–gel particles were produced with or without the addition of niobium (BAGNb or BAG, respectively). The produced particles were incorporated (2 wt%) into experimental adhesive resins formulated with 66 wt% bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate and 33 wt% hydroxyethyl methacrylate. Ethyl dimethyl-4-aminobenzoate and camphorquinone were used as photoinitiator system. Two experimental groups were produced: ABAGNb and ABAG. The adhesive without particles was used as control (ACG). The materials were tested for their degree of conversion, softening in solvent, and cytotoxicity. The mineral deposition was analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. Flexural strength and immediate and 1-year microtensile bond strength were evaluated. Results No statistical difference was found in degree of conversion. ABAGNb showed reduced softening and higher mineral deposition than ACG and ABAG after 28 days. ABAG and ABAGNb resulted in higher cell viability and lower flexural strength when compared to ACG. After 1-year, ABAGNb and ABAG presented statistically significant lower μTBS values. Significance Sol–gel-derived bioactive glasses promoted increased mineral deposition and cell viability for experimental adhesives with increased phosphate content and longitudinal μTBS values for the ABAGNb group. These results suggest the potential of the studied particles to be applied as bioactive fillers for dental adhesives. Reductions in longitudinal μTBS and flexural strength, however, were observed for both glasses compositions and must be considered.

Several functional adsorbents were synthesized by copolymerizing acrylic acid (AA) and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) in the presence of sodium alginate in water. Silver chloride nano particles (AgClNP) were also incorporated in the polymer matrix by coprecipitation method. The resulting composite type functional adsorbents were used for adsorption of a synthetic dye, namely, brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) from water in batch and in continuous mode in a fixed bed column. The formation of the adsorbent, AgClNP and its incorporation in the polymer matrix were characterized while pH sensitivity was studied with pH reversibility test and point zero charge (PZC) study. The network parameters were also determined. The synthesis and process parameters were optimized with a central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM) with respect to adsorption capacity as response in a batch study and the adsorbent showing optimum performance was further used for column study in a fixed bed. The effect of bed height, influent dye concentration and volumetric flow rate on dye adsorption were studied and the adsorption data showed close fitting to Adam-Bohart and Clark model. The photocatalytic degradation of the heterocyclic dye by the AgClNP incorporated adsorbent in the presence of UV radiation was also studied.

Most of the vitrimers based on ester linkages reported so far contain a Lewis acid or a strong organic base as the transesterification catalyst. The recyclability and reusability of these vitrimers are dependent on the catalyst retention, stability, and sintering issues. Herewith, a set of β-activated ester-based vitrimers are reported that can be thermally reprocessed at ∼150 °C under catalyst-free conditions. The relaxation temperature decreases to 110 °C in the presence of Sn(Oct)2. Importantly, the precursor of these vitrimers, malonic ester, is a cost-effective naturally occurring ester and can be extracted from various fruit juices. As a proof of concept, poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) is used as the hydroxyl precursor for the synthesis of vitrimers. These vitrimers display an adequate tensile strength (11.3–33.0 MPa), elongation (80–290%), and resilience. The materials can be effectively self-healed and reprocessed in the presence of heat without sacrificing the tensile properties. The vitrimers b...

Generally, surface initiated-atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) often suffers from the immobilization of the initiator on the surface-inert substrate. Developing an effective and versatile one-step method to anchor the priming sites while retaining the bulk properties of the substrate still faces challenges. In this work, direct fluorination is proposed to treat the benzene ring-containing substrate and the C–F introduced on the benzene ring can be used as an initiation site to achieve SI-ATRP. Computer and molecular simulation experiments have shown that the C–F added on the phenyl ring is more suitable for initiating ATRP than the C–F on the alkane chain. Thereafter, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric was successfully grafted with fluorinated methacrylate polymer via direct fluorination-initiated ATRP, resulting in durable superhydrophobic properties, which demonstrated the practicability of the method. Furthermore, fluorination-initiated ATRP presents universality with other phenyl ring-containing polymeric substrates, such as aramid fiber, polyimide fiber and poly-p-phenylene benzobisoxazole fiber. Among them, the fluorinated aramid fiber can be grafted with hydroxyethyl methacrylate to obtain increased interfacial shear strength.

The scaling laws relating the preparation conditions to the swelling degree, reduced modulus and effective crosslinking density of poly(diethylaminoethyl methacrylate-co-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propanesulfonic acid), henceforth designated as PDHA, gels prepared by radical crosslinking copolymerization in a solvent mixture were reported. Charge-balanced terpolymer PDHA hydrogels and cryogels (PDHA-Hgs and Cgs) were prepared in different monomer feed compositions. The swelling dependence of the reduced modulus was described by a power law relationship Gr ≈ (φV)m with an exponent of m = −0.30 at low swelling degree, while in the high swelling region the scaling becomes 0.21, indicating the finite extensibility of the network chains. The scaling exponent for the swelling degree and terpolymer composition, φV ≈ (Nν02)m, was found to be −0.13, indicating the increasing extent of the topological constraints arising from the trapped entanglements. By combining elasticity and swelling results, the scaling relationship between the apparent crosslink density and HEMA content used in the terpolymer feed was obtained as a cubic polynomial of the mol% of HEMA. In the HEMA-rich terpolymer PDHA Hgs and Cgs, the swelling degree was possibly controlled by the HEMA part of the terpolymer network, while the presence of DEAEM units in the network triggered the thermoresponsive swelling behavior. The dependence of interaction parameter χ on the volume fraction of the crosslinked terpolymer network in the swollen gel ν2 was evaluated and the results revealed extremely strong concentration dependence of χ for all terpolymer samples. Because of their inherent properties, the resulting terpolymer gels might contribute to the improvement of the loading capacity of polymers used in anticancer drug delivery systems.

Reducing microbial infections associated with biomedical devices or articles/furniture noted in a hospital or outpatient clinic remains a great challenge to researchers. Due to its stability and low toxicity, the N-halamine compound has been proposed as a potential antimicrobial agent. It can be incorporated into or blended with the FDA-approved biomaterials. Surface grafting or coating of N-halamine was also reported. Nevertheless, the hydrophobic nature associated with its chemical configuration may affect the microbial interactions with the chlorinated N-halamine-containing substrate. In this study, a polymerizable N-halamine compound was synthesized and grafted onto a polyurethane surface via a surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) scheme. Further, using the sequential SI-ATRP reaction method, different hydrophilic monomers, namely poly (ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA), hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and [2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl] dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide (SBMA), were also grafted onto the polyurethane (PU) substrate before the N-halamine grafting reaction to change the surface properties of the N-halamine-modified substrate. It was noted that the chains containing the hydrophilic monomer and the polymerizable N-halamine compound were successfully grafted onto the PU substrate. The degree of chlorination was improved with the introduction of a hydrophilic monomer, except the HEMA. All of these hydrophilic monomer-containing N-halamine-modified PU substrates demonstrated a more than 2 log CFU reduction after microbial incubation. In contrast, the surface modified with N-halamine only exhibited significantly less antimicrobial efficacy instead. This is likely due to the synergistic effects caused by the reduced chlorine content, as well as the reduced surface interactions with the microbes.

A novel polymeric hydrogel composed of hydroxyethyl cellulose-g-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) was prepared via graft polymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate on the surface of hydroxyethyl cellulose. N,Nʹ-Methylenebisacrylamide was used as a cross-linker. In this work, we changed the ratio of hydroxyethyl cellulose to the monomer, while the potassium persulfate and the cross-liker were used in amounts proportional to the wt% of both the matrix and monomer. The copolymers formation was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction pattern, while the changes in the surface morphology of the hydrogel were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The increase in the monomer ratio gradually improved the thermal stability of the resultant hydrogels. Finally, the cytotoxicity of the new polymeric hydrogels was evaluated using HCT-116, HepG2, MCF-7 human cancer cell lines and RPE-1 normal cell line. The cytotoxicity studies showed that the hydrogels were selectively toxic against the tested human cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner, whereas their cytotoxic activity was significantly reduced when they incubated with human RPE-1 normal cell lines, suggesting their possible utility in the formulation of anticancer drugs.

Development of simple and facile protocols for the fabrication of highly efficient and robust catalytic electrodes for water splitting reactions is of paramount interest in establishing clean energy generation strategies. We show that hydrogel polymer thin films, in spite of their insulating character, enable a unique solution of wide scope, combining the ease of in situ fabrication of the electrocatalyst and efficient application. RuO2 nanoplates are generated within thin films of poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) spin-cast on Ni foam, through mild thermal annealing. RuO2-PHEMA affects efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in an alkaline medium, with a very low overpotential of 30 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm–2 and stability for 24 h at 40 mA cm–2; Faradaic efficiency is 99.6%, and the turnover frequency is 24.2 s–1 at 100 mV overpotential. Experiments with a range of polymers establish a clear correlation between the swelling characteristic of the polymer and the overpotential for HER...

The conformation in solution of monocrotaline, a pyrrolizidine alkaloid presenting an eleven-membered macrocyclic diester ring, has been investigated using a combination of isotropic and anisotropic nuclear magnetic resonance parameters measured in four solvents of different polarity (D2 O, DMSO-d6 , CDCl3 , and C6 D6 ). Anisotropic nuclear magnetic resonance parameters were measured in different alignment media, based on their compatibility with the solvent of interest: cromoglycate liquid crystal solution was used for D2 O, whereas a poly (methyl methacrylate) polymer gel was chosen for CDCl3 and C6 D6 , and a poly (hydroxyethyl methacrylate) gel for DMSO-d6 . Whereas the pyrrolizidine ring shows an E6 exo-puckered conformation in all of the solvents, the macrocyclic eleven-membered ring adopts different populations of syn-parallel and anti-parallel relative orientation of the carbonyl groups according to the polarity of the solvent.

Polyolefin is a good candidate for a blood bag material alternative to the poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) blood bag that contains di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). However, polyolefin readily adsorbs some plasma proteins and platelets. To prevent these undesired adsorption, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) — hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) — lauryl methacrylate (LMA) copolymers with varying monomer ratios were synthesized and used as blended material for additives to reduce platelet adsorption. Platelet adsorptive properties were reduced by blending MPC copolymers with polyolefin and confirmed by the platelet adhesion test and the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) test.

Re‐absorbable dermal fillers of poly‐hydroxyethyl‐methacrylate suspended in hyaluronic acid are considered overall safe and well tolerable because of biocompatibility; nevertheless, rarely, late, or early adverse reactions may occur.

Multi-stimuli-responsive hydrogels are being increasingly studied due to their sensitive response to small stimuli and wide applications in biosensors and drug delivery. In this study, a multi-stimuli-responsive hydrogel, poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-N-vinyl pyrrolidone-co-methacrylic acid-co-N-isopropylacryl amide) [poly(HEMA-co-NVP-co-MAA-co-NIPA)], was synthesized by radical polymerization and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 13C NMR spectroscopy techniques. With the aids of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization, it was confirmed that the sensitive stimuli-responsive behavior of the hydrogel stemmed from its microstructure variation with those external stimulus. Rheological study showed that the hydrogel had rheological feature of typical elastomer. Compression tests revealed that the poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-N-vinyl pyrrolidone) [poly(HEMA-co-NVP)] played an important role in enhancing the compressive modulus of such hydrogel. More interestingly, the equilibrium swelling ratio (ESR) studies further confirmed that the composite hydrogel displayed response sensitively to the stimulus of temperature, pH, and ionic strength. Herein, theophylline as a drug model was adopted due to the multi-stimulus properties of hydrogels, which were a potential candidate for drug loading and delivering. Releasing drug continuously in a given period was dependent on the characteristics of solution and loading time. The mechanisms for drug release from the hydrogels were studied by Ritger–Peppas model.

Poly (2‑hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) was crosslinked in the presence of biocompatible and biodegradable poly(caprolactone) (PCL) based polyurethanes (PUs) and cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs). The CNWs were obtained from wastepaper. In order to crosslink PHEMA (10 wt%), a novel acrylic-urethane cross-linker was produced by a condensation reaction of PHEMA and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). The PU-PHEMA-CNWs scaffolds were prepared by solvent casting/particulate leaching method in different weight percentages of CNWs (i.e., 0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 wt%). The structural, mechanical, and in vitro biological properties of bio-nanocomposites were evaluated via FTIR, SEM, tensile, and MTT assay. The tensile strength of PU-PHEMA-0, PU-PHEMA-0.1, PU-PHEMA-0.5, and PU-PHEMA-1 were 76.2, 95.8, 98.1, and 89.8 kPa, respectively. Incorporation of CNWs also resulted in improved cell proliferation on PU-PHEMA-CNWs scaffolds. The bone marrow derived human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were seeded on the prepared porous scaffolds and incubated in osteogenic medium. Based on the results including calcium content assay, alkaline phosphatase assay, and mineralization staining, PU-PHEMA-CNW scaffolds were introduced as a suitable election for imitating the behavior of cellular niche. Bone mineralization and osteogenesis differentiation of hMSCs on PU-PHEMA-CNW scaffolds were significantly more than control after 14 days.

The coating structure is directly related to quality of coated paper, especially printability. Its structure mainly consists of pigment, binder, and additives. Binder has a significant influence on the coating structure because it is involved in the structure forming process and takes a key role in maintaining the structure. In this study, styrene acrylate (S/A) latex with hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as a comonomer was used as a binder, and the influence of HEMA contents on latex swelling and coating structure was investigated. The S/A latex particle swelled more with an increasing HEMA content, which significantly influenced coating color and coating layer characteristics. The viscosity of coating color became thick, and the dewatering of coating color was suppressed. The HEMA monomer that swelled latex particle allowed the coating layer to consolidate rapidly, which made the coating layer more porous and more uniform.

Cibacron blue F3GA functionalized poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) cryogel membranes were prepared and applied for a simple purification of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) from crude extract of S...

Colon-specific drug delivery systems are efficient for increasing the availability of drugs at colon region and are desirable for the treatment of local diseases such as ulcerative colitis and colonic cancer. We synthesized an acryloyl chloride modified olsalazine (olsalazine-AC) as an azo crosslinker which was copolymerized with hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and methacrylic acid (MAA), and developed two types of azo hydrogels which contained single network hydrogel and interpenetrating network hydrogel as an enzyme responsive and pH responsive controlled release carrier for colon-specific drug delivery. The structure of the azo crosslinker was characterized by FT-IR and 1H NMR spectra and the azo hydrogels were analyzed by using ultraviolet spectrophotometer and scanning electron microscopy. The in vitro release of the 5-flurouracil (5-FU) loaded azo hydrogels was carried out in PBS (pH 7.4), PBS (pH 2.0) and rat colonic fluid (RCF). The drug release profile revealed that 5-FU loaded in azo hydrogels released faster in rat colonic fluid. The results showed that these azo hydrogels could be potential drug carrier for colon-targeted delivery.

Surface molecularly imprinted polymers (MIL-101@MIPs) were prepared using MIL-101 as supporting core, imprinted polymers as selective shell synthesized with coumarin-3-carboxylic acid as dummy template of Zearalenone (ZEN), methacrylic acid as functional monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate hydroxyethyl methacrylate as cross-linker. The polymers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy–dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and particle-size distribution analyses. MIL-101@MIPs were used as the sorbent to compose the self-made cartridge. The cartridge was used to purify and enrich ZEN from real samples. Under optimized SPE conditions, a self-made cartridge can be reused for at least seven cycles. Elution was monitored with a high-performance liquid chromatography–fluorescence detection system. The linearity of the method ranged within 6.25–250 ng kg−1. The limits of detection ranged within 2.09 – 4.16 ng kg−1, and the limits of quantification ranged within 6.25 –12.50 ng kg−1, respectively. The matrix effects of four real samples were discussed. The spiking recoveries of ZEN ranged within 81.70%–90.10% with relative standard deviations lower than 5.56%. The performance of the self-made cartridge and immunoaffinity column was compared by chromatography.

Biodegradability and biocompatibility are two crucial prerequisites for a promising therapeutic vehicle. Herein, a novel biocompatible copolymer has been synthesized using glycogen and polylactide (PLA). Glycogen, a naturally occurring biopolymer has been functionalized by methacrylation. On the other hand, lactide has been polymerized through ring opening polymerization (ROP), initiated by hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and catalyzed by tin (II) 2‐ethyl hexanoate. Finally, the synthesized two substrates (i.e., glycogen methacrylate and PLA‐HEMA) are covalently connected by free‐radical polymerization, initiated by AIBN. The structure of the developed copolymer has been confirmed using ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral analyses. The gel characteristics have been evaluated by rheological studies, while the morphological assessment has been investigated by FESEM analysis. In vitro cytocompatibility study reveals that the hydrogel (Gly‐co‐PLA) is biocompatible. The in vitro and in vivo release studies demonstrate the excellent pH‐sensitive control release profile of dual drugs: ornidazole and ofloxacin. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1697–1703

The cement augmentation technique using poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is considered to be the most effective method for fixation of osteoporotic fracture because of its outstanding mechanical properties. However, the low bio-degradation of PMMA, which hinders bone ingrowth, limits it potential for a broad range of applications. Previous studies have shown blending β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) with PMMA was able to improve the osteoconduction while the material still suffered poor mechanical properties due to the poor compatibility between two components. In this study, we explored the use of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as a compatibilizer for improving the affinity of TCP/PMMA blends system. The resultant TCP/HEMA/PMMA(THP) composite cements exhibited similar setting properties to PMMA cement but much better mechanical properties than composite systems without HEMA as a compatibilizer. No cytotoxicity or hemolysis was observed in the THP bone cement system by biochemical assays. Bone ingrowth was significantly improved at 12 weeks. The reinforced pull-out strength of screws was observed at 4, 8, 12 weeks through in vivo studies performed on rabbit femurs. The THP system, as an injectable bone cement material, shows great potential for use in the cement augmentation technique.

A novel 6,6,7,7,8,8,8-Heptafluoro-5,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)octyl methacrylate monomer is synthesized. Corresponding homopolymers and copolymers with hydroxyethyl methacrylate are obtained by means of radical polymerization in supercritical carbon dioxide using azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. The resulting homopolymers are highly soluble in supercritical carbon dioxide. Solubility of copolymers is decreased with increase in hydroxyethyl methacrylate content. Simultaneous deposition of copolymers with diisocyanate crosslinking agents from supercritical carbon dioxide solutions allows one to obtain uniform coating of individual fibers of cotton/polyester fabrics. Such coatings show higher water contact angles and delayed transition from Cassie-Baxter to Wenzel state during droplet evaporation than 6,6,7,7,8,8,8-Heptafluoro-5,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)octyl methacrylate or perfluorohexylethyl methacrylate homopolymer coatings.

Background and objectives: Oral hygiene is mandatory for patients with orthodontic appliances and prevention of microbial biofilms in the oral environment. One method for inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms is commonly by use fluoridated dental material. The aim of this study was to evaluate releasing fluoride after addition into the orthodontic acrylic resin with 40% hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and amount of fluoride release from the orthodontic acrylic resin that was polymerized by Auto polymerization and IVOMAT polymerization. Materials and methods: Sixty disc-shaped samples measured 10 mm diameter and 1mm thickness of orthocryle were divided into two groups according to polymerization technics, thirty samples for Auto polymerization and thirty samples for polymerization by IVOMAT. Each of these groups was subdivided into three groups according to the concentration of NaF. Group A 0% NaF, Group B 10%NaF, and Group C 20%NaF. For testing fluoride release, samples stored for 28 days in deionized distilled water for testing measurements for days 1,4,7,14,21, and day 28. Precision ion meter was used to measure fluoride release. Repeated measure ANOVA was undertaken to compare fluoride release in each group. Paired sample t-test was utilized to differentiate between groups. Results: Significant difference was observed in the fluoride-releasing of both groups and within the subgroups (P≤0.05). The highest amount of fluoride release is present in 20% NaF followed by 10% NaF for Auto polymerized acrylic resin in the first day. The lowest fluoride release is presented in 10% on day 28 for IVOMAT polymerization. In general, the Auto polymerized acrylic resin had higher fluoride release than IVOMAT from all groups for 0%,10% and 20% NaF. Conclusion: Orthodontic acrylic resin has the ability to release fluoride more than 28 days for both types of polymerization technics in different concentrations.

Radical copolymerizations of butyl methacrylate and macromonomers prepared by the ring-opening polymerizations of L-lactide and ɛ-caprolactone initiated with hydroxyethyl methacrylate produced comb-shaped polymers grafted with hydroxy-terminated oligolactide and oligocaprolactone (PBML and PBMC). The crosslinking reactions of PBML and PBMC with hexamethylene diisocyanate produced polyurethane networks (PUN-BML/C) with the feed PBML/PBMC weight ratios of 100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 and 0/100. The formation of polyurethane network structure was confirmed by the analyses of FT-IR spectra and gel fractions. The glass transition and 5% weight loss temperatures (Tg and Td5) of PUN-BML/C 100/0 and PUN-BML/C 0/100 were much higher than those of PBML and PBMC, respectively. Scanning electron microscopic and dynamic mechanical analyses revealed that the oligolactide and oligocaprolactone segments of PUN-BML/C 75/25, 50/50 and 25/75 conetworks are not fully miscible to each other but compatibilized to some extent. The tensile strength and modulus of PUN-BML/C increased with increasing feed PBML content, and PUN-BML/C 75/25 exhibited the highest elongation at break and tensile toughness.

Poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) liquid crystal gel was synthesized by chemical crosslinking. The structures and performance of the product were characterized by IR, TG, POM and SEM. The effect of the amount of liquid crystal on the properties of structure and swelling were conducted. The swelling behavior was investigated by crosslinking dosage, initiator dosage, neutralization and water retention. The results showed that the optimal preparation conditions of poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) liquid crystal gel was mCLC:mHEMA=2:1, mAPS/(mCLC:mHEMA) =1.5%, mMBA/(mCLC:mHEMA)=0.05%, neutralization=70% by orthogonal experiment. With the increasing of mCLC:mHEMA, the swelling property of liquid crystal gel firstly increased and then decreased. When mCLC:mHEMA=3, the swelling property reached the maximum value and the APS dosage was 2% of the total mass, and the liquid crystal gels had the highest swelling property up to 1024 g/g. When the MBA dosage was 0.05% of the total mass, the swelling performance of liquid crystal gel reached the maximum. The internal structure was relatively compact with forming the most folds on the outer surface, which could improve the free space on the surface and inside, and the liquid crystal gel formed 2~8 μm channel structure by introducing different crosslinking dosage. With the increasing of neutralization, the swelling property of liquid crystal gel firstly increased and then decreased. The neutralization was 90%, and the swelling property reached the maximum value. Liquid crystal gels were dried for 10 h at 60 °C, 70 °C, 80 °C, 90 °C and 100 °C, and the residual moisture contents were 70%, 65.44%, 55.8%, 47.2% and 34.63%, respectively. The materials had good water retention.

Tailoring hydrogel properties by modifications of the crosslinker structure is a good method for the design of hydrogels with a wide range of properties. In this study, two novel carboxylic acid-functionalized dimethacrylate crosslinkers (1a and 2a) are synthesized by the reaction of poly(ethylene glycol) or 2-hydroxyethyl disulfide with tert-butyl α-bromomethacrylate followed by cleavage of tert-butyl groups using trifluoroacetic acid. Their copolymerization reactivity with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) investigated by photopolymerization studies performed on photo-differential scanning calorimetry shows higher reactivity of 2a compared to 1a. These crosslinkers are then used at different ratios for fabrication of pH- and redox-responsive poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-based hydrogels. The swelling behavior of the hydrogels is found to be dependent on the structure of the crosslinker, degree of crosslinking, pH, and CaCl2 concentration. The redox-responsive behavior is demonstrated by degradation of the hydrogel upon exposure to 1,4-dithiothreitol. The dye Rhodamine 6G and the drug resorcinol are used as models to demonstrate the pH and redox dependent release of loaded compounds from the hydrogels. The electrostatic interactions between the carboxylate groups and the positively charged R6G are found to govern the release profile in DTT and counteract the diffusion of dye molecules and significant amount of release (79% in 120 hr) occurs only at highly acidic conditions. The degradation mediated release in DTT is observed better in case of resorcinol (around 88% in 5 hr). Overall, these hydrogels can be regarded as good candidates for several applications, such as matrices for controlled release, tissue repair, and regeneration.

Three novel side-chain fluoroalkyl polyether oligomers with different molecular weight were synthesized base on the ring-opening polymerization of 3-perfluoro-n-butyl-1,2-epoxypropane, followed by terminal esterification using acryloyl chloride. The oligomer intermediates were used as functional monomers for emulsion copolymerization with methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, and hydroxyethyl methacrylate. The produced latexes were used for hydrophobic and oil-phobic finishing on cotton fabric surface and the treated cotton fabrics were tested by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy, combined with chemical composition analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The result showed that fluorinated copolymers were successfully coated on the cotton fibers’ surface. Water contact angles was used to evaluate the wettability and the results showed that treated cotton fabrics possessed good hydrophobicity with the contact angle of 139.1 ± 1°, and the heat resistance of treated cotton fabrics was identified improved through the thermogravimetric analyses (TGA).