Temperature-responsive hydrogels from cellulose

The aim of this work is to prepare the temperature-responsive cellulosic hydrogels undergoing a large volume change in an aqueous solution on heating or cooling. To this end, we prepared O-methyl cellulose (MC) and O-(2-hydroxy-3-butoxypropyl) cellulose (HBPC) which precipitate out of solution on heating without forming gel. MC and HBPC derivatives prepared by homogeneous reactions were proved to be promising raw materials for the cellulosic hydrogels mentioned above. The results on the phase separation of the derivatives were discussed in terms of the distribution of substituents along the cellulose chain and in the anhydroglucose units.