文摘
Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) copolymers modified with block-copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) are inherently attractive for medicinal applications as theircomponents are considered pharmaceutically safe. The laboratory-scale synthesis of poly(acrylicacid) bonded onto a PEO-PPO-PEO triblock (Pluronic) backbone via dispersion polymerizationis reported. Initial optimization of the synthesis defines appropriate levels of initial loading ofacrylic acid and Pluronic, with a mixture of 2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethylpentanenitrile) and lauroylperoxide as an initiator system. The synthesis results in a copolymer with low residual monomercontent and a very high degree of bonding between Pluronic and PAA. Diluted aqueous solutionsof Pluronic-g-PAA exhibit rapid thermogelation. Rheological parameters of the copolymers urgeon their ophthalmic applications.