Surface modification of commercial ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs

300 nm in diameter) was carried out by using polymethylacrylic acid (PMAA) chains.And by using the modifed-ZnO NPs (mZnO NPs) and N

N'-methylene-bis-propanamide (BIS) as physical and chemical cross-linkers

respectively

novel antibacterial mZnO/PAAm nanocomposite hydrogels with physical/chemical double cross-linked structure were prepared via redox initiated polymerization.FTIR

TGA and SEM were used to study the surface modification of ZnO NPs and the prepared mZnO/PAAm nanocomposite hydrogels.Mechanical properties

swelling behavior and antibacterial test of these hydrogels were also investigated.Results show that mZnO NPs dispersed uniformly in both aqueous solution and hydrogels' network through hydrogen bond interactions between OH groups on the surface of mZnO NPs and COOH groups on covered PMAA chains (the cover ratio was 3.64 wt%) and served as a physical cross-linker.It was also revealed that in correspondence with the content of physical and/or chemical cross-linkers

the mechanical properties and swelling behavior (swelling ratio) of these hydrogels could be controlled within 140~800 kPa and 55%~170%

respectively.Further the antibacterial test illustrated such ZnO NPs implanted hydrogels inhibit the growth of several kinds of oral anaerobes.These hydrogels may provided a simple approach to achieve the integration of structure and function.