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Synthesis and Characterization of Shape-Memory Double Network Hydrogels based on Acrylic Polymers, Improved with Nanostructures

Noori, Sara | 2026

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  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 58838 (06)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Shojaei, Akbar; Molavi, Hossein; Rahmani, Pooria
  7. Abstract:
  8. Considering the existing challenges in the treatment of burn and chronic wounds and the limitations of conventional dressings, in this study a dual-network hydrogel system based on poly(N‑isopropylacrylamide) and gelatin containing cerium‑based metal–organic frameworks (Ce‑MOF) and the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac sodium was designed via an in‑situ encapsulation approach to enhance mechanical strength, targeted drug delivery, and thermal responsiveness. The synthesized samples were characterized using advanced techniques including FTIR, XRD, FESEM, BET, TGA, and were further evaluated through swelling, contact angle, and compressive strength tests. The results revealed that the optimized formulation containing 45 wt.% gelatin and 0/5 wt.% Ce‑MOF maintained a regular honeycomb-like porous structure while exhibiting remarkable improvements in both compressive strength and swelling capacity due to the formation of physical crosslinking points, effective hydrogen bonding, and uniform nanoparticle distribution. Moreover, the drug‑loaded nanocomposite demonstrated excellent performance by effectively suppressing the initial burst release and achieving a fully controlled drug release behavior (with 99% encapsulation efficiency and 33% of drug loading capacity) in response to temperature changes near the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). These findings indicate that incorporating interpenetrating polymer networks and uniformly distributed active nanoparticles leads to the development of intelligent wound dressings with superior mechanical strength, desirable thermos- responsiveness, and efficient controlled drug release; representing a significant step toward next‑generation smart and effective wound dressings to accelerate the wound‑healing process in biomedical applications.
  9. Keywords:
  10. Smart Wound Dressing ; Double Network Hydrogel ; Poly N‑Isopropyl Acrylamide (NIPAM) ; Gelatin ; Drug Release ; Controlled Drug Release ; Cerium Based Metal–Organic Framework

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