Optimization of Manufacturing Conditions for Radiation-Crosslinked Hydrogels - Part 2: Investigation of Optimal Conditions Using Response Surface Methodology -; 방사선 가교 기반 하이드로겔의 제조 조건 최적화 연구 - 제 2보: 반응표면분석법을 이용한 최적 조건 탐색 -

초록

Electron beam crosslinking is a highly efficient technique that forms crosslinked structures without harmful chemical crosslinkers or catalysts, eliminating the need for additional washing or sterilization. This makes it time- and energy-efficient. In this study, hydrogels were successfully prepared using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), a material with excellent hydrophilicity, biodegradability, and non-toxicity, and citric acid (CA), a natural polymer, as a crosslinking agent through electron beam irradiation. To determine optimal mixing conditions, response surface analysis was conducted using the central composite design (CCD) methodology. Results showed that CMC had the most significant impact on the water absorption performance of hydrogels. Excessively low (4.2wt%) or high (9.8wt%) CMC concentrations reduced water absorption. The regression model demonstrated high reliability with an R2 value of 0.91. Based on the response model, optimal conditions for hydrogel preparation were identified as 9.17wt% CMC and 2.92wt% CA. Under these conditions, the predicted water absorption was approximately 79.5 g/g. Validation experiments confirmed these findings, with actual water absorption at 83.8 g/g, showing a +5% error rate. This study provides a predictive model for estimating water absorption based on specific CMC and CA concentrations.

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