Federica Romano

Dr. Federica Romano


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
29 August 2025 in Polymers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MMMiriam Di Martino
Miriam Di Martino
Lucia SessaLucia Sessa
Lucia Sessa
FRFederica Romano
Federica Romano
Stefano PiottoStefano Piotto
Stefano Piotto
Simona ConcilioSimona Concilio
Simona Concilio
Thermoresponsive hydrogels that undergo reversible sol-gel transitions near physiological temperatures are highly attractive for biomedical applications, such as injectable drug delivery and embolization therapies. In this study, a library of polyurethane-based hydrogels was synthesized via step-growth polymerization using polyethylene glycol (PEG) of varying molecular weights, different diisocyanates, and a series of functional diols derived from diethanolamine with increasing hydrophobicity. The resulting polymers exhibited sol–gel transition behaviors without the need for external crosslinkers, relying solely on non-covalent interactions. The thermal responsiveness was systematically investigated using UV–Vis turbidimetry, and the cloud point temperature (TCP) was found to be tunable within a range of 26–49 °C by modulating the monomer composition. Statistical modeling identified PEG molecular weight and diol structure as the primary determinants of TCP, while diisocyanate type and diol-to-PEG ratio had negligible effects. Only diethanolamine (DEA)-based polymers formed stable hydrogels above a critical gelation temperature (LCGT), attributed to enhanced intermolecular interactions via free amine groups. In vitro degradation assays confirmed good hydrolytic stability under physiological conditions over four weeks, with degradation profiles strongly influenced by the PEG chain length and hydrophobic content. These findings establish a structure–property framework for the rational design of injectable, thermoresponsive polyurethane hydrogels with tailored sol–gel behavior for biomedical applications.