Methacrylate hydrogels reinforced with bacterial cellulose

0377479 - ÚMCH 2013 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Hobzová, Radka - Dušková-Smrčková, Miroslava - Michálek, Jiří - Karpushkin, Evgeny - Gatenholm, P.
Methacrylate hydrogels reinforced with bacterial cellulose.
Polymer International. Roč. 61, č. 7 (2012), s. 1193-1201. ISSN 0959-8103. E-ISSN 1097-0126
R&D Projects: GA AV ČR KJB400500902
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z40500505
Keywords : bacterial cellulose * methacrylate hydrogel * composite
Subject RIV: CD - Macromolecular Chemistry
Impact factor: 2.125, year: 2012

Composite hydrogels consisting of nanofibrous bacterial cellulose (BC) embedded in a biocompatible polymeric matrix of various methacrylates were synthesized by UV polymerization using the ‘ever-wet’ technique. The effect of monomer(s) type and ratio, system dilution at polymerization, monomer(s) hydrophilicity, crosslink density and cellulose/hydrogel ratio was investigated.The effect of BC reinforcement on equilibrium swelling depends on whether the neat gel swells more when brought into contact with water. The major improvement achieved by introduction of 1%–2% BC concerns mechanical properties. Compared with neat gels, the storage shear modulus G´ increased by a factor 10-20, and the loss part G´´ also rose significantly. The compression modulus ranged from 2 to 5.5 MPa for composites swollen to equilibrium (20-70 wt% water). The BC-hydrogel composites are considered for application in the tissue engineering area.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0007010