PREPARATION AND SWELLING PROPERTIES OF GLYCOSIDE-BEARING HYDROGELS BYGAMMA-RAY RADIATION TO GLYCOSIDE-BEARING POLYMER AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS

gamma-Ray radiation on poly(glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate) [poly(GEMA) ] and poly(glucosyloxyethyl acrylate) [poly(GEA)] aqueous solutions wi thout any crosslinkers gives glycoside-bearing hydrogels in a high yie ld. The degree of the swelling ratios of each obtained hydrogel in wat er was decreased with an increase in the total radiation dose to each polymer solution. In order to clarify the formation mechanism of obtai ned poly(GEMA) hydrogel by gamma-ray radiation, the swelling propertie s of each hydrogel were also compared with those of poly(GEA) under va rious conditions. Poly(GEMA) in an organic solvent, N,N-dimethylformam ide and dimethylsulfoxide, was not gelled by gamma-ray radiation, alth ough poly(GEA) was gelled under these conditions. These results sugges t that the radiation formation mechanism of the poly(GEMA) hydrogels i s different from that of the poly(GEA) hydrogels. In addition, the rad iolysis of water is necessary in order to form the hydrogels for poly( GEMA). Next, we predicted the radiation formation mechanism of the pol y(GEMA) hydrogels by the crosslinking between the glucoside moieties i n poly(GEMA). (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.