Synthesis and characterization of dextran-based hydrogel prepared by photocrosslinking

A polysaccharide-based hydrogel was prepared by photocrosslinking of modified dextran. Dextran was first bromoacetylated by bromoacetyl bromide and was subsequently reacted with sodium acrylate for incorporating a vinyl group. The acrylated dextran was then irradiated by a long-wave UV lamp for photocrosslinking. Reaction products (bromoacetyl dextran, acrylated dextran, and hydrogel) were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR. The prepared dextran hydrogels showed a wide range of swelling behavior in different pH media, depending on the degree of substitution in bromoacetyl dextrans.