Effect of molecular weight of poly(ethylene glycol) as humectant in interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels based on poly(sodium AMPS) and gelatin for wound dressing applications

Abstract

Hydrogel composed of poly(sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate) and gelatin containing different molecular weights of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as a humectant were prepared via UV photopolymerization. The results indicated that the PEG slowed down evaporative water loss and water vapor transmission. Water transport, whether it was absorption, transmission or evaporation, and also tensile properties were found to be dependent to varying extents on the PEG molecular weight. These results could also be related to the amount of non-freezable water, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry. These properties and their relevance to the hydrogel’s potential use as a wound dressing are discussed.