Statistical Optimization of Physically Crosslinked Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Starch Hydrogelsfor Biomedical Applications
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study addresses the mechanical strength–swelling trade-off in poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels for wound care by adopting a crosslinker-free PVA/starch (ST) design. The objective was to statistically optimize composition for balanced tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (EAB), and swelling index (SI). Hydrogels were prepared by two freeze–thaw cycles at −80 °C, varying PVA (8.6–11.4 wt%) and ST/PVA (1.5–8.5 wt%), and modeled using a Central Composite Design. Properties were broadly tunable (TS 3.8–8.9 MPa; EAB 229–438%; SI 217–363%). The optimum 11.4 wt% PVA with 1.5 wt% ST/PVA achieved TS 7.85 MPa, EAB 387.2%, and SI 273%, in close agreement with predictions; scanning electron microscopy showed homogeneous ST dispersion and ductile fracture. Notably, mechanical strength approached chemically crosslinked benchmarks while eliminating toxic reagents. These results establish a green, scalable route to robust, absorbent PVA/ST membranes suited to dynamic wound sites and provide response-surface models as practical design rules for future functionalization.
Keywords
freeze–thaw, hydrogel, poly(vinyl alcohol), response surface, starch
Article Details
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References
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