The purpose of this research was to develop magnetically responsive polymer networks based on composites of magnetic particles and temperature responsive hydrogels. These systems are expected to have wide applicability in various biomedical applications. In particular, these systems show great promise as active components of micro- and nanoscale devices.

Specifically, several N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) hydrogel systems have been synthesized and characterized. Their swelling dependence on crosslinking length, crosslinking percentage, temperature and the effect of the presence of magnetic particles was analyzed. Hydrogels were synthesized by UV free-radical polymerization. Magnetic microparticles or nanoparticles were incorporated into the hydrogel systems by polymerizing mixtures of particles and monomer solutions. Different percentages of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) and polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) were used as crosslinkers. The effect of network structure on response properties was examined.