Preparation of Alginate/Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogels Using Gamma-ray Irradiation Grafting

To graft N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) onto alginate, varying dosages of ${\gamma}$-rays were irradiated onto alginate films in deionized water and methanol media, which are non-solvents of alginate. We investigated the hydrogels graft ratio, mechanical strength, swelling kinetics and ratio, and behavior with respect to drug release. The graft yield of NIPAAm increased upon increasing the irradiation dose. The use of the aqueous solution increased the graft yield relative to that obtained in methanol. The mechanical strength of the grafted hydrogels increased after grafting with NIPAAm. In a study of the swelling kinetics, we found that all hydrogels reached an equilibrium swollen state within 3 h. The equilibrium swelling ratio of the hydrogels decreased upon increasing the irradiation dose. The swelling ratio of the hydrogels decreased dramatically between 30 and 35$^{\circ}C$ because phase separation of NIPAAm occurred at 32$^{\circ}C$. The swelling process, with respect to the temperature change, was repeatable. An NIPAAm-grafted alginate containing a drug sustained its release rate until 3 h after an initial high drug release caused by a burst effect.