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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 January 2011
The possibility of using three dimensional porous networks as microreactors for synthesizing thermoresponsive polymers and hydrogels in a CO2 environment is an important breakthrough in the strategies to prepare smart films, membranes and porous bulky devices that undergo fast reversible changes in surface properties triggered by external stimuli. In situ synthesis of thermoresponsive polymers namely, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and poly (N,N-diethylacrylamide) (PDEAAm) within chitosan (CHT), collagen (CLG) and chitosan-collagen (CHT:CLG) blended scaffolds were performed in order to further impregnate with model drugs. The performance of these switchable release devices was evaluated through the study of drug release kinetics as a function of temperature and pH. The same methodology was successfully applied to produce thermoresponsive polysulfone-based membranes.