title: Electron-beam generated porous dextran gels: experimental and quantum chemical studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to investigate the reaction mechanism of electron-beam generated macroporous dextran cryogels by quantum chemical calculation and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electron-beam radiation was used to initiate the cross-linking reaction of methacrylated dextran in semifrozen aqueous solutions. The pore morphology of the resulting cryogels was visualized by scanning electron microscopy. Quantum chemical calculations and electron paramagnetic resonance studies provided information on the most probable reaction pathway and the chain growth radicals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most probable reaction pathway was a ring opening reaction and the addition of a C-atom to the double-bond of the methacrylated dextran molecule.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  First detailed quantum chemical calculation on the reaction mechanism of electron-beam initiated cross-linking reaction of methacrylated dextran are presented.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute of Surface Modification , Leipzig.
authors.forename: Sergej
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naumov
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Knolle
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Becher
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schnabelrauch
authors.forename: Senta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reichelt
mesh_terms: D059985:Cryogels; D003911:Dextrans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D004583:Electrons; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015394:Molecular Structure; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D016062:Porosity; D011789:Quantum Theory
chemical_list: D059985:Cryogels; D003911:Dextrans; D008689:Methacrylates; C514458:methacrylated dextran
keywords: Electron-beam irradiation; biodegradability; cryogel; dextran; electron paramagnetic resonance; quantum chemical calculation