Abstract:
A polymerizable boronic acid salt has the general structure (I): A+.X− (I) in which: A represents a quaternised ammonium boronic acid cation; and X represents an anion, wherein either A or X contains a free-radical polymerizable group. Diol-sensing hydrogels comprising a crosslinked polymeric matrix formed from the polymerizable boronic acid salt monomer are also described.
Abstract:
The present teaching relates to photo-responsive hydrogels comprising a copolymer comprising N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), a polymerisable derivative of benzospiropyran, a cross-linking agent and an acid, the acid having a pKa of less than 6, wherein the hydrogel is operably responsive to exposure to water so as to undergo spontaneous protonation and swelling. The photo-responsive hydrogels described can be used in the field of microfluidic platforms.