title: Water content and compression modulus of some heparin-PVA hydrogels.
abstract: The effects of changes in the heparin-PVA formulation on the water content, compression modulus and molecular weight between cross-links of the resulting gel was determined. Molecular weight between cross-links was calculated directly from the compression modulus and the swelling ratio. Glutaraldehyde and MgCl2 displayed the effects expected of them as cross-linking agent and catalyst respectively. On the other hand, formaldehyde appeared to be a non-essential component since its absence had little effect on gel properties and its presence did not affect the water content as originally predicted. Understanding the effect of each formulation component on gel properties enables alteration of gel water content and hence permeability for special applications.
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D005557:Formaldehyde; D005976:Glutaral; D006493:Heparin; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D008274:Magnesium; D015636:Magnesium Chloride; D055585:Physical Phenomena; D010825:Physics; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000032:analysis; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D015636:Magnesium Chloride; D014867:Water; D005557:Formaldehyde; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol; D006493:Heparin; D008274:Magnesium; D005976:Glutaral