Physical Swelling Properties Study of a PVP Hydrogel in Aqueous Solutions by using Electron Beam (EB) Irradiation

This study has focused on study of swelling kinetics of a hydrogel based on PVP, PEG and agar. This hydrogel was prepared by using electron beam (EB) irradiation as a crosslinker in aqueous solution. For cross-linking and sterilizing the samples, gel samples are irradiated under a proper dose at 25kGy and radiation energy of 10 MeV with electron beam accelerator.

The hydrogel showed clearly swelling behavior with non- Fickian or anomalous type of diffusion in water. The swelling of the hydrogel showed a second order kinetics of swelling in the water environment.