title: Reagent-free crosslinking of aqueous gelatin: manufacture and characteristics of gelatin gels irradiated with gamma-ray and electron beam.
abstract: In order to obtain a gelatin hydrogel crosslinked by a reagent-free method, gamma-ray and electron beam radiation was applied to porcine, bovine and fish gelatin gels and the products were characterized by measuring the gel fraction, the swelling ratio and the enzymatic degradability. On increasing the radiation dose, the gel fraction increased and both the swelling ratio and the enzymatic degradability decreased. The transition temperature from gel to sol of the hydrogel containing more than 5% mammal gelatins increased up to more than 90 degrees C when gamma-ray or electron beam were irradiated by more than 10 kGy. The results show that the degree of crosslinking of irradiated gelatin hydrogels increases with increasing irradiation dose and with decreasing concentration. It is suggested that the radiation crosslinking occurs around the physical crosslinking point or multiple helix structure of gelatin gel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Gunma University, Kiryu, Gunma 376-8515, Japan. terao@bce.gunma-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Terao
authors.forename: Naotsugu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Furusawa
authors.forename: Yasutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yoshii
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dobashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002417:Cattle; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004583:Electrons; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D005399:Fishes; D005720:Gamma Rays; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004798:Enzymes; D020100:Hydrogels; D005780:Gelatin