Molecular and Genetic Medicine

Double-Network Carboxymethyl Chitosan Grafting Polyacrylamide/Alginate Hydrogel Compositions Adapted to Achieve High Stretchable Properties

Abstract

Jiufang Duan, Yudong Liua, Liujun Liua, Jianxin Jianga and Jianzhang Lia

Double-network hydrogels with high mechanical strength have been synthesized using the carboxymethyl chitosan, alginate, and acrylamide. Separate gel of chitosan, alginate, and acrylamide is brittle and is easily broken into fragments under a modest stretching. The hydrogels were composed of three kinds of polymer, alginate is composed of a combination of ionically first network, and carboxymethyl chitosan grafting alginate is composed of a ductile covalently second network, forming a double-network structure, which, despite containing 86% water, can stretched to 11.5 times their initial length. This ionically and covalently crosslinked structure may expand the scope of hydrogel applications.