COMPARATIVE TEXTUROMETRIC ANALYSIS OF HYDROGELS BASED ON CELLULOSE DERIVATIVES, CARRAGHENATES, AND ALGINATES - EVALUATION OF ADHESIVENESS

This paper reports a texturometric study of hydrogels based on cellulo se derivatives, carraghenates (with or without Na+ or K+), and alginat es (associated or not with Ca++). The stiffness, elasticity, and cohes iveness are evaluated and the influence of the nature and the concentr ation of gelling agent on the adhesiveness, an indicator of bioadhesio n, is discussed. The highest adhesiveness values are found among the s emi-stiff gels, particularly with those based on either sodium or pota ssium alginate, or cellulose derivatives. The least satisfactory resul ts are obtained with the formulations associating carraghenates and Na + or K+.