Dresden 2014 – scientific programme
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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik
CPP 28: (Hydro) Gels and Elastomers
CPP 28.3: Talk
Wednesday, April 2, 2014, 10:15–10:30, ZEU 222
Electron irradiation of gelatin hydrogels to tailor the material properties — •Emilia I. Wisotzki1, Marcel Hennes1, Carsten Schuldt2, Wolfgang Knolle1, Ulrich Decker1, Josef A. Käs2, Mareike Zink2, and Stefan G. Mayr1,2,3 — 1Leibniz Insitute of Surface Modification (IOM), Leipzig, Germany — 2Faculty of Physics and Earth Science, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany — 3Translational Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Leipzig University, Germany
Gelatin is a derivative of the natural and prevalent substance collagen, making it a highly interesting biomaterial for application in a wide range of areas from biomedicine to bioengineering. Reagent-free treatment methods to tune the properties of hydrogels such as gelatin are highly desirable in order to preserve existing biocompatibility and biodegradability of the material. Gelatin hydrogels have been synthesized and subsequently electron irradiated by a 10 MeV linear accelerator, in order to alter the material properties through crosslinking. Quantification of the physical crosslinking was carried out by rheological measurements and investigation of swelling behaviour to observe hydrogel strengthening and elasticity. From this data, rubber elasticity theory and the Flory-Rehner equation for isotropically swollen elastomers were used to estimate the crosslinking densities and polymer mesh size. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to analyze changes of the gelatin structure with respect to the irradiation dose. Systematic approaches to precisely tune these material properties for desired applications were demonstrated with respect to irradiation dose and gelatin concentration.