In this study, hydrogels from a mixture of gelatin and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)(PVP) were made by γ-ray irradiation. The mechanical properties of gelation, water absorptivity, and gel strength were examined to evaluate the hydrogels for wound dressing. The concentration of gelatin solutions was in the range of 5 ~ 20 wt%. The PVP to gelatin ratio was allowed to vary from 100 to 0 and 0 to 100. The solid concentration of PVP/gelatin solution was 20 wt%. Gamma irradiation doses of 25, 35, 50, 60, and 70 kGy, respectively, were exposed to a mixture of gelatin or PVP/ gelatin to evaluate the effect of irradiation dose on the mechanical properties of hydrogels. The results showed that gel content was increased as gelatin concentration in gelatin or PVP/gelatin decreased, or as irradiation dose increased. Swelling percent was increased as gelatin concentration in gelatin or PVP/gelatin increased, or as irradiation dose decreased. The swelling percent was inversely proportional to the gel percent because crosslinking density increased with increasing gelatin. Gel strength was increased in proportional to the irradiation dose. This study showed the hydrogel dressing had a better curing effect than common vaseline gauze.

In this study, hydrogels from a mixture of gelatin and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)(PVP) were made by γ-ray irradiation. The mechanical properties of gelation, water absorptivity, and gel strength were examined to evaluate the hydrogels for wound dressing. The concentration of gelatin solutions was in the range of 5 ~ 20 wt%. The PVP to gelatin ratio was allowed to vary from 100 to 0 and 0 to 100. The solid concentration of PVP/gelatin solution was 20 wt%. Gamma irradiation doses of 25, 35, 50, 60, and 70 kGy, respectively, were exposed to a mixture of gelatin or PVP/ gelatin to evaluate the effect of irradiation dose on the mechanical properties of hydrogels. The results showed that gel content was increased as gelatin concentration in gelatin or PVP/gelatin decreased, or as irradiation dose increased. Swelling percent was increased as gelatin concentration in gelatin or PVP/gelatin increased, or as irradiation dose decreased. The swelling percent was inversely proportional to the gel percent because crosslinking density increased with increasing gelatin. Gel strength was increased in proportional to the irradiation dose. This study showed the hydrogel dressing had a better curing effect than common vaseline gauze.