title: On the development and characterisation of crosslinked sodium alginate/gelatine hydrogels.
abstract: Sodium alginate (SA) and gelatine (G) based hydrogels with various SA/G ratios, crosslinked with calcium ions (Ca(2+)) and glutaraldehyde (GTA), respectively, were developed. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were applied to determine their physicochemical characterization. The swelling studies, conducted in phosphate-buffered saline with a pH ranging from 1 to 11 at 37 °C, were utilized for an evaluation of their absorption ability. FTIR spectra of the Ca(2+) crosslinked SA/G hydrogels revealed a small shift in symmetric stretching carboxyl groups, indicating an ionic binding between the Ca(2+) ions and the SA. Increasing the G content in hydrogels crosslinked with GTA significantly changed the shapes of the amide I and II bands in the FTIR spectra, thus confirming the G-GTA crosslink formation. After crosslinking, a DMA study proved the enhanced viscoelastic properties and improved thermal stability of the prepared samples. The obtained data indicated that Ca(2+) crosslinked hydrogels with a SA/G 50/50 ratio provide a good balance of swelling and viscoelastic properties, making them applicable as a potential nontoxic wound dressing material capable of adequately assuring a moist environment, elasticity and mechanical strength for comfortable wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Polymer Systems, University Institute, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Nad Ovcirnou 3685, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic. amarjargal_sa@yahoo.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saarai
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kasparkova
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sedlacek
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saha
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D004548:Elasticity; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D005976:Glutaral / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014783:Viscosity; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; D014867:Water; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D005780:Gelatin; D002118:Calcium; D005976:Glutaral