A Physically Cross-Linked Sodium Alginate–Gelatin Hydrogel with High Mechanical Strength
Lini Wang, Hui Jie Zhang, Xueqian Liu, Yun Liu, Xing Zhu, Xinhua Liu, Xiangyu You
Abstract
Hydrogels constructed from pure biomacromolecules with multifunctions of good mechanical performances, ionic environmental stability, self-healing, biocompatibility, and ionic conductivity are desirable but remain as a challenge. In this work, hydrogels composed of pure biomacromolecules of gelatin and sodium alginate were constructed through a simple repeated acid soaking–drying–swelling process. The obtained hydrogel with a physically cross-linked interpenetrated network of gelatin and sodium alginate contained 79% water and had a relatively high fracture tensile stress and strain of 0.46 MPa and 2.4, respectively. As the gel was cross-linked with a hydrogen bond and alginic acid, it exhibited good stability in a physiological saline solution. Furthermore, the gel exhibited good biocompatibility, self-healing properties, and ionic conductivity, demonstrating its excellent potential for applications in biomedical materials and biosensors.