CHEMOENZYMATIC SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLY(ALPHA-METHYL GALACTOSIDE 6-ACRYLATE) HYDROGELS

Novel sugar-based hydrogels were synthesized from an enzymatically pre pared monomer, alpha-methyl galactoside 6-acrylate, in the presence of N,N'-methylenebis(acrylamide) (BIS) as the cross-linker. The swelling ratio and elastic modulus of this hydrogel were comparable to those o f polyacrylamide hydrogels. The neutral (uncharged) sugar-based gels s welled as much as 100-fold in deionized water at a cross-linker concen tration of 0.5 mol %. The incorporation of ionic groups (i.e., acrylic acid moieties) into the network resulted in a dramatic increase in th e swelling ratio; however, the swelling fell to the level of the corre sponding neutral gel in electrolytic solutions (NaCl or CuCl2 solution with concentration > 10(-3) M). Conversely, no salt effect was observ ed for the neutral gels. This poly(alpha-methyl galactoside 6-acrylate ) hydrogel has potential applications as a water-absorbent and as a bi ocompatible material.