A developing method of synthesizing polymers with useful property relationships utilizes self-assembling lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) as photopolymerization templates to direct polymer structure on the nanometer scale.  Unfortunately, thermodynamically driven phase separation events often occur during polymerization and prevent control over final polymer nanostructure and properties.  Herein, the nanostructure of polyacrylamide is controlled through photopolymerization in LLC templates formed using specific concentrations of polymerizable and nonreactive surfactants.  Properties including water uptake, diffusivity, and modulus are greater in polyacrylamide systems retaining the LLC nanostructure compared to isotropic polymers of the same chemical composition.  Useful property relationships typically not attainable in traditional hydrogel systems are observed for hexagonal nanostructured hydrogels including simultaneous increases in water uptake and mechanical strength.  These results demonstrate methods of generating and retaining polymer morphology during photopolymerization and may be utilized to synthesize nanostructured polymers with property relationships useful in a growing number of advanced biological and industrial applications.

Improved hydrogel properties through photopolymerization in lyotropic liquid crystal templates

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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