Synthesis and Biocompatibility of PVA/NaCMC Hydrogels Crosslinked by Cyclic Freezing/thawing and Subsequent Gamma-ray Irradiation

Polyvinyl alcohol/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (PVA/NaCMC) hydrogels were prepared by physical crosslinking (cyclic freezing/thawing) and gamma (${\gamma}$)-ray irradiation to evaluate the effect of NaCMC concentration (2~8 wt%) on the mechanical properties and the biocompatibility of the PVA/NaCMC hydrogels. The swelling rate of PVA/NaCMC hydrogels regardless of irradiation rose with increasing NaCMC content from 2 wt% to 8 wt%, while the gelation rate was the reverse. As the NaCMC content increased from 2 wt% to 6 wt%, the compressive strength of the hydrogels increased dramatically from $8.5{\pm}2.0kPa$ to $52.7{\pm}2.5kPa$ before irradiation and from $13.5{\pm}2.9kPa$ to $65.5{\pm}8.7kPa$ after irradiation. When 8 wt% NaCMC was added afterwards, the compressive strength decreased however. The irradiated PVA/NaCMC hydrogels containing 6 wt% NaCMC exhibited the tailored properties of the swelling rate of $118{\pm}3.7%$, the gelation rate of $71.4{\pm}1.3%$, the strength of $65.5{\pm}8.7kPa$, respectively, and no cytotoxicity was observed.