Use of electron beam for the production of hydrogel dressings

The electron beam irradiation technique has been utilized to prepare hydrogel wound dressings. The composition of the dressings is based on polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and agar. Increasing the irradiation dose leads to an increase in the gel fraction; this increase is due to increased crosslink density. The gel fraction% decreases as the PEG concentration increases. The maximum swelling% decreases with increasing the irradiation dose, but increases with increasing the PEG concentration. This relationship can be utilized to modify the gel properties as gel fraction% and maximum swelling of the hydrogel. The prepared dressings could be considered as a good barrier against microbes.