title: Preparation and characterization of novel biocompatible cryogels of poly (vinyl alcohol) and egg-albumin and their water sorption study.
abstract: Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and egg albumin are water-soluble, biocompatible and biodegradable polymers and have been widely employed in biomedical fields. In this paper, novel physically cross-linked hydrogels composed of poly (vinyl alcohol) and egg albumin were prepared by cyclic freezing/thawing processes of aqueous solutions containing PVA and egg albumin. The FTIR analysis of prepared cryogels indicated that egg albumin was successfully introduced into the formed hydrogel possibly via hydrogen bonds among hydroxyl groups, amide groups and amino groups present in PVA and egg albumin. The gels were also characterized thermally and morphologically by DSC and SEM-techniques, respectively. The prepared so called 'cryogels' were evaluated for their water uptake potential and influence of various factors such as chemical architecture of the spongy hydrogels, pH and temperature of the swelling bath were investigated on the degree of water sorption by the cryogels. The effect of salt solution and various simulated biological fluids on the swelling of cryogel was also studied. The in vitro biocompatibility of the prepared cryogel was also judged by methods such as protein (BSA) adsorption, blood clot formation and percentage hemolysis measurements.
authors.affiliation: Bose Memorial Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Government Autonomous Science College, Jabalpur, M.P., 482 001, India. akbmrl@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bajpai
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saini
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D059985:Cryogels; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005615:Freezing; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001798:Blood Proteins; D059985:Cryogels; D005353:Fibronectins; D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol