Water Absorption and Swelling Property of Interpenetrating Network Hydrogel from Crosslinked Natural Rubber and Modified Rice Starch

摘要

Interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogel was a hydrogel fabrication from crosslinked polymers that was developed to enhance the mechanical and physical properties of conventional hydrogel. In this study, IPN hydrogel was fabricated by blending crosslinked natural rubber and crosslinked modified rice starch at room temperature with rubber to starch component ratio of 1:2. Crosslinked natural rubber was prepared via free radical polymerization of natural rubber latex with N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker. Crosslinked starch component was also prepared from pregelatinized starch with maleic acid by heat. The effects of MBA amount and different types of modified starch [glutinous rice starch (mGst) and rice starch (mRst)] on hydrogel properties such as water absorptions, swelling properties, physical morphology and crosslink density were investigated. The results showed that IPN hydrogel containing mRst provided higher water absorption and swelling property than mGst due to its amylose content. In addition, crosslinker amount in rubber component positively related to water absorption and swelling property. The results illustrated that IPN hydrogel with 2 phr MBA provided a greater water absorption and swelling property than IPN hydrogel with 1 phr MBA due to the interior porous structure within polymer matrix. Conclusively, IPN hydrogel comprising of NRL and modified starch was applicable to use as a pharmaceutical material in further study.