What is Thermoresponsive gel?
Thermoresponsive polymer gels show a discontinuous change of the degree of swelling with temperature. At the volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) the degree of swelling changes drastically. Researchers try to exploit this behavior for temperature-induced drug delivery.
What is gel transition temperature?
At low temperature below the LCST of C1, it is a free-flowing transparent liquid (22 °C, sol). The polymer solution becomes a free-standing hydrogel upon heating up to 50 °C (gel). The sol–gel transition process was visually confirmed to be reversible.
Which polymer is used for preparation of thermosensitive gel?
Thermosensitive gels made of block copolymers of polyethylene oxide-poly propylene oxide-polyethylene oxide (PEO-PPO-PEO) (poloxamers or pluronics) were widely used as drug delivery systems [77].
Does hydrogel dissolve in water?
A hydrogel is a crosslinked hydrophilic polymer that does not dissolve in water.
What can trigger a sol gel transition?
Exposing rhTE to an alkaline environment at physiological temperature results in a sol–gel transition that enables the formation of stable, highly elastic hydrogels without the need for chemical or enzymatic cross-linking.
What is in situ gelation?
In situ gelling systems are polymeric formulations that are in sol forms before entering in the body, but change to gel forms under the physiological conditions. Pectin, xyloglucan, gellan gum, chitosan and alginic acid are some of the natural polymers (1). The pectin gelation occurs in the presence of calcium ions.
What is gelling capacity?
Gelling capacity (or water holding capacity) refers to the capability of a hydrocolloid to retain water. Gelling capacity can be defined as the ability of a substance to spontaneously absorb liquids within an aqueous surrounding. More often than not, this term is associated with hydrocolloids.
What is Consolute temperature?
: the temperature at which complete miscibility is reached as the temperature is raised or in some cases lowered —used of two liquids that are partially miscible under ordinary conditions. — called also consolute temperature.