Thermo-Sensitive Hydrogels from Phenolated Alkali Wheat Lignin

Date:27 September 2018

Country: China

Application

• Biomedical Applications: The thermo-sensitive gel can be used for controlled drug delivery and tissue repair, responding to temperature changes for efficient drug release and enhanced biocompatibility.
• Agricultural Applications: The gel can serve as a carrier for pesticides, releasing active ingredients in response to temperature variations, improving effectiveness and reducing environmental impact.

Description

This project involves the synthesis of a novel thermo-sensitive gel using phenolated alkali lignin (PPAL) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) through thermal polymerization. The PPAL-based gel exhibited improved crosslinking density, lower critical solution temperature (LCST), and enhanced mechanical properties compared to the unmodified alkali lignin-based gel. Characterization of the gel's thermal stability, swelling behavior, and interior morphology highlighted its potential for applications in drug delivery, tissue repair, and agricultural chemical release. The study demonstrates how lignin's chemical modification can enhance the performance of thermo-sensitive hydrogels.

Pathway Description:

The process used in this project involves the phenolation of alkali lignin (PAL) with phenol using sulfuric acid as a catalyst. The phenolated alkali lignin (PPAL) is then polymerized with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) through thermal polymerization to form a thermo-sensitive hydrogel. This gel exhibits improved mechanical properties and thermal stability.