Abstract
The present work deals with a new type of hybrid polysaccharide-silica hydrogel fabricated by the sol-gel process in which a completely water-soluble precursor of tetrakis-(2-hydroxyethyl) orthosilicates (THEOS) and a biocompatible polysaccharide of carboxymethylated curdlan (CMCD) have been used. The kinetic gelation process, mechanical properties and morphological structures of hybrid silica hydrogels at different concentrations of CMCD and THEOS were investigated by dynamic rheology, compression testing and scanning electron microscopy. CMCD was found to be served as a catalyst and template in the sol-gel process of THEOS in water. The mechanical strength of the resulting silica gels was tunable by the modulation of either the concentration of CMCD or THEOS. Higher content of THEOS and CMCD resulted in stiffer gels. Due to the tunable mechanical property and good biocompatibility, these hybrid hydrogels are promising for the applications as drug release systems in biomedical fields.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
