2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate(HEMA), commonly abbreviated as HEMA, is a versatile monomer in the field of polymer chemistry. With the chemical formula C6H10O3, HEMA features a methacrylate ester backbone substituted with a hydroxyethyl group, imparting it with unique properties and applications.
HEMA is known for its excellent biocompatibility and hydrophilic nature, making it a preferred choice in the manufacture of biomedical materials. It is widely used in the production of soft contact lenses, where its ability to retain moisture ensures comfort for wearers. The monomer's reactivity allows it to be copolymerized with other monomers to tailor the physical and chemical properties of the resulting polymers.
Moreover, HEMA's hydrophilicity makes it suitable for use in hydrogels, which find applications in wound dressings, drug delivery systems, and tissue engineering. Its ability to form transparent and flexible polymers also makes it attractive for use in coatings and adhesives.
In addition to its biomedical applications, HEMA is also employed in the production of various industrial polymers, including those used in paints, varnishes, and adhesives. Its copolymerization with other acrylates can yield polymers with enhanced mechanical properties and resistance to environmental stressors.
Overall, 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate(HEMA) is a valuable monomer with a wide range of applications, thanks to its unique combination of reactivity, biocompatibility, and hydrophilicity.

| 
			 
  | 
			
			 
  | 
		
| 
			 Chemical Formula  | 
			C6H10O3 | 
| 
			 Exact Mass  | 
			130.06 | 
| 
			 Molecular Weight  | 
			130.14 | 
| 
			 m/z  | 
			130.06 (100.0%), 131.07 (6.5%) | 
| 
			 Elemental Analysis  | 
			C, 55.37; H, 7.75; O, 36.88 | 

synthesis method
- Place a 1000 ml four mouth flask on a water bath, add iron trioxide, p-hydroxyanisole and methacrylic acid, heat the water bath to 80 ~ 85 ° C, replace the air in the reaction flask with nitrogen, after the iron trioxide is completely dissolved in methacrylic acid, inject ethylene oxide gas, the ventilation time is 3.5 ~ 4.5H, and continue the reaction for 0.5 ~ 1.5h after the ventilation is completed;
 - Transfer the reactant into a Kjeldahl distillation flask, then add an appropriate amount of p-hydroxyanisole for vacuum distillation, and collect the fraction of 80 ~ 86 ° C / 4 ~ 6mmhg as the finished product. The invention selects a new high-efficiency polymerization inhibitor, p-hydroxyanisole, which is superior to other polymerization inhibitors (such as hydroquinone). Its greatest advantage is that it can directly participate in polymerization, does not need to be removed, has a significant polymerization inhibition effect, uses less, can completely meet the use requirements, and ensures the product quality.
 



Medical & Biomedical
- Soft Contact Lenses: HEMA is a fundamental component in the production of soft contact lenses. Its hydrogel properties make it ideal for use in ophthalmic devices that require comfort and biocompatibility.
 - Tissue Engineering: It is used in soft tissue implants, synthetic transplants for cartilage and bone, and neural tissue regeneration. The hydrogel nature of HEMA allows it to interact well with biological tissues.
 - Drug Delivery Systems: HEMA-based hydrogels can be used as controlled drug delivery carriers for anticancer and antitumor medications.
 
Polymer & Coatings Industry
- Modification of Resins and Coatings: HEMA can copolymerize with other acrylic monomers to produce acrylic resins with active hydroxyl groups in their side chains, which can undergo esterification and crosslinking reactions. These modified resins are used in paints and coatings, particularly in high-end automotive paints, to maintain a mirror-like gloss over extended periods.
 - Adhesives: HEMA is also used in the manufacture of adhesives for synthetic textiles and other materials.
 


Electronic & Analytical
- Dehydrating Agent: In the electronic industry, HEMA is employed as a dehydrating agent, especially in electron microscopes.
 - Embedding Agent: It is used as an aqueous-miscible embedding agent in analytical chemistry and biological sample preparation for microscopy.
 
Other Industrial Applications
- Lubricant Additives: In the oil and fat industry, HEMA serves as an additive for lubricant washing.
 - Printing and Imaging: HEMA-based materials are used in print plates, inks, and other imaging technologies.
 

research instances
Synthesis and Polymerization
- The synthesis of HEMA and its polymerization process were first described in U.S. Patent 2,028,012 in 1936.
 - HEMA can be synthesized from methacrylic acid through transesterification reaction with ethylene glycol or through the reaction of ethylene oxide and methacrylic acid.
 
Applications in Dental Materials
- Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) is one of the most significant polymers derived from HEMA.
 - PHEMA is widely used in the synthesis of dental composite materials due to its hydrophilic nature, biocompatibility, and resistance to hydrolytic degradation.
 - A study by André Jochums et al. in 2021 investigated the influence of HEMA exposure on angiogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). This research highlights the potential biological effects of HEMA in dental applications.
 
Hydrogel Systems
- The presence of a hydroxyl group in HEMA leads to its high hydrophilic nature, making it a suitable candidate for the development of hydrogel-like systems.
 - The hydrogel systems based on PHEMA can retain a similar amount of water as compared to living tissue, making them valuable for various biomedical applications.
 
Prospects
Biomedical Applications
With its biocompatibility, non-irritant, and non-toxic behavior, HEMA and its polymers have significant potential in biomedical applications, such as contact lenses and intraocular lenses.
The water retention property of PHEMA, combined with its mechanical strength and resistance to hydrolytic degradation, makes it a promising material for various biomedical devices.
Dental Materials Innovation
As the demand for advanced dental materials increases, the use of HEMA-based polymers is likely to expand.
Researchers are continuously exploring new ways to improve the properties of HEMA-based polymers to meet the evolving needs of dental healthcare.
Sustainable and Eco-friendly Materials
The synthesis of HEMA and its polymers can potentially be made more sustainable by exploring eco-friendly production methods.
As the global community becomes more aware of the importance of environmental sustainability, the development of eco-friendly HEMA-based materials may become a research focus in the future.
2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate(HEMA) holds considerable promise for future research endeavors, leveraging its unique properties and versatile applications. As a monomer extensively used in synthesizing various polymers, HEMA's polymer, Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA), demonstrates a wide array of potential uses that span multiple scientific and industrial fields.
One promising area of research lies in the biomedical sector. PHEMA's biocompatibility, hydrophilic nature, and ability to form hydrogels make it an ideal candidate for advanced medical applications. For instance, PHEMA hydrogels are already employed in soft contact lenses and drug delivery systems. Future studies could explore further refinements in these applications, enhancing their efficacy and comfort for patients.
Moreover, PHEMA's potential as a controlled drug delivery carrier, especially in nanoparticle form, opens up avenues for targeted anticancer and antitumor therapies. Researchers may delve deeper into optimizing these nanoparticles for better bioavailability, reduced toxicity, and precise targeting of diseased tissues.
In addition to biomedical applications, HEMA's polymers could play a crucial role in the development of advanced materials for environmental remediation and energy storage. The ability of PHEMA hydrogels to swell and absorb significant amounts of water could be harnessed in the design of novel sorbents for oil spills or heavy metal removal from contaminated waters.
Furthermore, the tunable physical and chemical properties of PHEMA make it a compelling material for exploring new energy storage technologies, such as supercapacitors and batteries. Researchers may investigate ways to enhance PHEMA's conductivity and stability to meet the demands of high-performance energy storage devices.
In conclusion, 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate(HEMA) offers a rich tapestry of research opportunities, poised to revolutionize fields ranging from medicine to environmental science and energy technology. As we continue to unravel its full potential, HEMA and its polymers will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the future of scientific discovery and technological innovation.

2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate (HEMA), a complex name for non chemists, is a key chemical substance that is almost ubiquitous in modern society. It exists in the light cured composite resin on our teeth, in the contact lenses we wear every day, on bone cement and wound dressings in the operating room, and in coatings, adhesives, and textile finishing agents in thousands of households. HEMA is a "hybrid" molecule with different chemical properties at both ends: one end is a highly reactive methyl methacrylate double bond, which desires to undergo polymerization reaction; The other end is a hydrophilic and biocompatible hydroxyl group, which endows it with the ability to bind and modify with water. This unique dual functionality makes it a bridge connecting hydrophobic and hydrophilic worlds, organic and inorganic materials, as well as chemistry and biomedical applications.
In 1843, French chemist Auguste Laurent first synthesized acrylic acid by oxidizing acrolein. However, nearly half a century later in 1893, German chemist Otto R ö hm began systematically studying the polymerization behavior of acrylic acid and its esters in his doctoral thesis, which truly opened the door to acrylic acid science.
R ö hm foresaw the potential of these materials and co founded R ö hm&Haas with business partner Otto Haas in 1907, initially aiming to produce a transparent sheet called "Plexigum" using acrylic ester.
In 1901, students of German chemists Wilhelm Rudolph Fittig and Paul Engelmann first synthesized methyl methacrylate (MMA). But what really made it practical was the work of British chemists Rowland Hill and John Crawford at the Imperial Chemical Industry (ICI).
In 1934, they developed an industrially feasible route for synthesizing MMA and soon discovered that its polymerization could form an extremely transparent and robust material - polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), marketed as "Perspex" (in the UK) and "Plexiglas" (produced by R ö hm&Haas in Germany and the US). PMMA was extensively used in aircraft cabin covers, windshields, and turrets during World War II, and its excellent optical performance and impact resistance were fully utilized.
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