BIOCOMPATIBLE HYDROGELS: SYNTHESIS, SWELLING PROPERTY AND SOLVENT EFFECT ON GELATION

Biocompatible hydrogels have an increasing interest in recent years. Poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, PHEMA) is widely studied with its biocompatible property. In this study, we have shown the gelation conditions to produce PHEMA hydrogels which have an excellent hydrogel property. Since dissolution forces by solvents are so important in gelation process, we studied the effect of solvent combination of acetone and water mixture in detail. As a result of investigation, the available acetone-water ratio limits were stated in order to obtain PHEMA hydrogels. The swelling property of PHEMA hydrogel was also shown. In our study, PHEMA samples imbibe water as much as five times of their own weight.