Composite Copolymer Acrylamide/Bacterial Cellulose Hydrogel Synthesis and Characterization by the Application of Gamma Irradiation

Abstract

Realizing the growing extraordinary interest in the development of polymer hydrogels, successful attempt has been made for synthesis of copolymer hydrogels from aqueous solution of acrylamide/bacterial cellulose (AAm/BC) with irradiation processing technology using Co-60 gamma source. The study envisaged to: (i) develop a novel high strength polymer nanocomposite hydrogels containing natural BC, and (ii) investigate chemical structure, morphology, and mechanical strength properties of the formed gels. The effectiveness of AAm/BC hydrogel for wound dressing application was also tested. Structure and properties of composite were investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Atomic force microscopy (AFM). While investigating the influence of irradiation dose and concentration of acrylamide on gel content, swelling properties and thermal stability of copolymer hydrogel,maximum gel content of prepared hydrogel was obtained at the radiation dose of 40 kGy. Swelling ratio and equilibrium water content increased with increasing irradiation dose and concentration of acrylamide in feed solution. The water absorption of hydrogel increased with increased standing time in swelling medium. It was rapid up to 24 h and got slowed down thereafter. The water absorption also increased with increasing concentration of irradiation dose in the feed solution. The water absorption of copolymer hydrogel obtained at 40 kGy irradiation dose decreased from 1800 to 1400%. This type of diffusion of prepared hydrogel was found to be a non Fickian diffusion. The thermal stability of copolymer hydrogel prepared at the irradiation dose of 40 kGy increased with increasing amount of AAm in the feed solution. The mechanical behavior of composite hydrogels at optimum irradiation dose performed value of tensile and strain at 46.3MPa and 36.6%, respectively.