Biocompatible Hydrogel Film of Polyethylene Oxide-Polyethylene Glycol Dimetacrylate for Wound Dressing Application

Hydrogel polymer is a new material which has a broad application for biomedical materials, pharmacy, drugs and agriculture. Hydrogel has ability to absorb and retain water which is very useful for medical applications. We developed polyethylene oxide-polyethylene glycol dimetacrylate using permanent crosslinking method via electron beam irradiation for wound dressing application. Various composition of pegdma/peo (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) irradiated with electron beam to get the optimum composition for wound dressing application. The pegdma content in hydrogel film influenced the gel fraction, swelling ratio, mechanical properties and water vapor transmission rate. The results show that the increase in content of pegdma increased the tensile strength and gel fraction. The highest tensile strength (0, 65 MPa) and gel fraction (76%) reached at 20% pegdma/peo. In contrary 20% pegdma/peo hydrogel has the lowest swelling ratio (235%). Base on the results, 20% pegdma/peo hydrogel film is very potential for wound dressing application with high mechanical strength and ideal water vapor transmission rate.