Synthesis and characterization of new amphiphilic polymeric cryogels

Cryogels are polymeric gel matrices belonging to the class of hydrogels synthesized under cryopolymerization conditions. Cryogels are generally used in many fields for biomedical purposes thanks to their interconnected supermacroporous spongy flexible structure, high pore density, not requiring toxic substances as a solvent and pore maker when synthesized, and being mechanically durable. Due to the ever-increasing application of amphiphilic block copolymers, it is possible to produce such polymers; It is necessary to investigate and improve its physicochemical properties. Amphiphilic copolymers are copolymers of interest in both polar and non-polar phases consisting of hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers. The amphiphilic nature of these copolymers, which consist of incompatible blocks, gives them very different properties in selective solvents. They cause microphase separation on the surface as well as in the mass structure. In the presence of selective media, in the solvent or on the surfaces, their arrangement within themselves takes the form of colloidal dispersion due to the fact that the other block will collapse in the solvent medium relative to one block, and thus cause agglomerations in the form of micelles, microemulsions and the formation of absorbed polymer layers.Within the scope of this thesis, the synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic type new generation polymeric systems amphiphilic cryogels are aimed. It is aimed to synthesize a new generation amphiphilic cryogel that contains hydrophilic and hydrophobic structure by meeting the hydroxylated fatty acids in the same polymer mix and polymerizing together, which are known to be highly hydrophilic. The main monomer HEMA (2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate) was preferred for the synthesis of new amphiphilic cryogel which is structurally not encountered in the literature. HEMA monomer is water soluble, biocompatible, chemically and hydrolytically stable. In addition to HEMA monomer, linoleic fatty acid produced from modified soybean oil by first auto-oxidation and then hydroxylation reaction was used as comonomer. The morphological and thermal analysis changes of the cryogel against the change in the hydroxylated fatty acid ratio in the content of the poly (HEMA-LinaOH) cryogels to be synthesized were examined. The swelling properties of the synthesized cryogels were investigated according to their liquid holding capacity in water and different solvents. FTIR-ATR for structural characterization of cryogels, SEM for surface and morphological analysis, EDAX for elemental analysis, DSC for thermal analysis, TGA methods were used. Keywords: Amphiphilic polymers, Cryogel, HEMA (2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate), LinaOH, Linoleic acid