Dharmesh R Chejara
University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Title: Natural polymer based novel micro porous soft hydrogel system: A potential viscosupplimentation for biomedical applications
Biography
Biography: Dharmesh R Chejara
Abstract
We report herein, synthesis of natural polymer sodium alginate (Na-Alg) based novel soft hydrogel system where aminocaproic acid (ACA) was attached on to the polymer using carboddimide coupling chemistry. The designed soft hydrogel was characterized using various analytical techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). This soft hydrogel was further investigated for stress responsiveness using different rheological studies which confirmed the thixotropic nature of the gel, which is rendered flowable (fluid) on applying physical stress and recovers its ”rigid” gel structure upon removal of these applied stimuli. In addition the hydrogel was found to be nontoxic in nature. This approach of synthesizing a natural polmer-based materials could be applicable to a broad variety of other natural polymers and may have a potential utility as a viscosupplimentation for orthopedic implants in the field of biomedical applications.