Electrical response characterisation of poly(ethylene glycol) macromer (PEGM)/chitosan hydrogels in NaCl solution

Interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels composed of poly(ethylene glycol) macromer (PEGM) and chitosan were synthesised by UV irradiation of solutions in a mild aqueous media. The IPN hydrogels exhibited the equilibrium water content (EWC) in the range of 86-94%. The hydrogels were characterised using FT-IR, FT-Raman spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results from DSC measurements indicate that the melting endotherms of PEGM, within the hydrogels, decreased in intensities and shifted to lower temperatures comparing with a linear PEGM. This was due to the decrease of the crystallinity in the IPN hydrogels with higher contents of PEGM. The electrical response of the IPN hydrogels was also investigated by applying electrical current to the hydrogels immersed in a NaCl solution. The extent of a bending degree of the IPN hydrogel depends on the IPN hydrogel composition and applied electric field strength.