Polyvinylpyrrolidone-Polydimethylsiloxane Amphiphilic Co-Networks: Synthesis, Characterization, And Perm-Selective Behavior

An amphiphilic co-network (APCN) membrane has been synthesized through end-crosslinking of amphiphilic grafts of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) backbone carrying polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) branches fitted with terminal vinylsilyl groups via free radical polymerization. The synthesis strategy has been carried out by the free radical polymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone (VP) with methacrylate allyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (MA-PDMS-V) and dimethacrylate terminated polydimethylsiloxane (MA-PDMS-MA) to form a soluble graft consisting of PVP main chains carrying vinyl terminated PDMS branches, which is crosslinked with polymethylhydrosiloxane through hydrosilylation. The resulting APCN membrane exhibited a combination of unique properties, that is, high transparency, high mechanical properties, and high permeation rate to inulin. Notably, the mechanical properties and inulin permeability of fabric-support APCN membrane were higher than that of pure APCN membrane. As a result of their unique performance, the resulting APCN membranes showed a wide range of potential applications in drug release vectors, soft contact lenses, and biomedical separation materials. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 42985.