Synthesis of polysaccharide chemical gels by gamma-ray irradiation

The aim of this study was to compare the ability of different polysaccharides to form chemical gels by gamma-irradiation. Dextran, alginic acid, hyaluronic acid, benzyl esters of hyaluronic acid, and gellan were functionalized to introduce double bonds through reaction with glycidyl acrylate. All the polysaccharides used in our study formed chemical gels by gamma-irradiation, although the extent of gel formation was different. The effects of the polymer concentration, the amount of glycidyl acrylate, and the gamma-irradiation dose on the hydrogel formation were studied by determining the degree of swelling of gels in water. The acidification of polyelectrolytes to pH 3 allowed them to form chemical gels more easily. Alginic acid, hyaluronic acid, and benzyl ester of hyaluronic acid at 25% of esterification degree formed chemical gels at lower polymer concentrations and at lower gamma-irradiation dose at pH 3 than at pH 6. The ability to form chemical gels using various natural polymers may be useful in the development of biodegradable hydrogels for various applications.