Poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) hydrogel production by ultraviolet radiation: new methodologies to accelerate crosslinking

Poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) hydrogels produced by high-energy radiation relies on water radiolysis as a primary process leading to crosslinks. Conversely, ultraviolet direct irradiation into PVP leads to crosslinking trough pyrrolidinone moiety photolysis. However, this process showed to be rather inefficient. This work describes the crosslinking of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) based on hydrogen peroxide photolysis, therefore mimicking water radiolysis, using UV-C (e.g. low pressure Hg lamp) or UV-A radiation sources. The process efficiency and the properties of the hydrogel formed are discussed and compared with other methods of hydrogel production.