Thermoresponsive Nanocomposite Hydrogels: Transparency, Rapid Deswelling and Cell Release

'-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS, crosslinker), photoinitiator and 0.5-4.0 wt% polysiloxane nanoparticles (wt% solids of nanoparticles with respect to NIPAAm weight) at ~7 °C. At these nanoparticle concentrations, the nanocomposite hydrogels were more optically transparent versus those prepared with analogous larger nanoparticles (~219 nm ave. diameter). The volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) of the nanocomposite hydrogels was conveniently unaltered versus that of the pure PNIPAAm hydrogel. Incorporation of nanoparticles caused enhancement in modulus as well as the extent and rate of deswelling. When cooled from 37 °C to 25 °C, mouse smooth muscle precursor cells (10T1/2) were effectively detached from nanocomposite hydrogel surfaces due to hydrogel swelling.