Synthesis of unsaturated poly(ether amide)s based on amine-terminated poly(ethylene glycol)

Novel water-soluble unsaturated poly(ether amide)s (PEAs) were synthesized by low-temperature polycondensation of fumaryl chloride and amine-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (Jeffamine®). The unsaturated copolymers were further chemically modified with thiols to provide reactive pendant functional groups. Hydrogels based on these copolymers were prepared by copolymerization of the PEA with N-vinyl pyrrolidone exposure to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The resulting hydrogels exhibited a high swelling ratio, and the magnitude of swelling depended on the molecular weight of Jeffamine®. The swelling ratio and equilibrium water content tended to increase with increasing chain length of the Jeffamine® used in copolymer synthesis.