Hydrogel of biodegradable cellulose derivatives. I. Radiation-induced crosslinking of CMC

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 78; no. 2; pp. 278 - 283
• Main Authors: Fei, Bin, Wach, Radoslaw A., Mitomo, Hiroshi, Yoshii, Fumio, Kume, Tamikazu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 10.10.2000; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biodegradation; Cellulose and derivatives; Crosslinking; Crosslinking and degradation; Exact sciences and technology; Hydrogels; Macromolecules; Molecular dynamics; Molecular structure; Natural polymers; Photolysis; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymers and radiations; Radiation effects; Biological properties; Biodegradation; Substituent effect; Structure effect; Cellulose(carboxymethyl); Photochemical crosslinking; Swelling; Enzyme; Biodegradability; Experimental study; Colloidal gel; Gamma radiation; Cellulase; Glycosidases; Concentration effect; Enzymatic digestion; Hydrolases; Hydrogel; Aqueous solution; O-Glycosidases
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-4628(20001010)78:2<278::AID-APP60>3.0.CO;2-9

Radiation crosslinking of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) with a degree of substitution (DS) from 0.7 to 2.2 was the subject of the current investigation. CMC was irradiated in solid‐state and aqueous solutions at various irradiation doses. The DS and the concentration of the aqueous solution had a remarkable affect on the crosslinking of CMC. Irradiation of CMC, even with a high DS, 2.2 in solid state, and a low DS, 0.7 in 10% aqueous solution, resulted in degradation. However, it was found that irradiation of CMC with a relatively high DS, 1.32, led to crosslinking in a 5% aqueous solution, and 20% CMC gave the highest gel fraction. CMC with a DS of 2.2 induced higher crosslinking than that with a DS of 1.32 at lower doses with the same concentration. Hence, it was apparent that a high DS and a high concentration in an aqueous solution were favorable for high crosslinking of CMC. It is assumed that high radiation crosslinking of CMC was induced by the increased mobility of its molecules in water and by the formation of CMC radicals from the ion of H atoms from macromolecules in the intermediate products of water radiolysis. A preliminary biodegradation study confirmed that crosslinked CMC hydrogel can be digested by a cellulase enzyme. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 278–283, 2000