Hydrogels offer a great variety of biomedical applications because of their good biocompatibility and high water content [1, 2]. Especially for wound dressings, hydrogels show suitable properties. A moist environment accelerates the healing process [3]. At the same time, exceeding humidity at the wound site can be prevented by absorption and permeability to wound exudate. A still remaining challenge is the development of a mechanically stable yet flexible polymer, which is essential for the application and wearing comfort.In our experiments, we used interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on different combinations of alginate and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Cross-linking was introduced by radical polymerization and ionic interactions. The gels were characterized for their mechanical performance in compression and tension tests, swelling behavior and capacity of liquid transmission.The developed IPNs showed enhanced stability in comparison to the single-component gels (Figure 1).The mesh size ratio between PEG and alginate was adjusted by varying the molecular weight of the PEG fraction. This led to an increasing stability combined with a swelling capability comparable to alginate or even higher. The hydrogel properties could be further optimized by regulating the gel pH value. Both, copolymerization with pH active monomers and treating the polymerized gels with different buffer solutions resulted in improved material properties. [1] Steve Rimmer, Biomedical hydrogels � Biochemistry, manufacture and medical applications, Woodhead Publishing Ltd 2011.[2] Biomaterials 2003  , 24, 4337 � 4351.[3] Acta Biomaterialia 2013  , 9, 7093 � 7114.

Interpenetrating polymer networks for wound dressing applications

248th National Meeting (2014)

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