Biodegradable hydrogel
Development of biodegradable hydrogel
Natural polysaccharides, such as cellulose, starch, chitin/chitosan, are decomposed by irradiation. Hydrogel, however, can be obtained when polysaccharide derivatives are mixed with water well and irradiated with electron beam or γ-rays because of cross-linking reaction. This dried hydrogel can absorb water more than 70 times of its weight and hold the shape for 7 days. This is the environment friendly material because it is formed of natural polysaccharide derivatives and degraded by the enzyme or in soil.
