Hydrogels for wound dressing from a mixture of polyvinyl aicohol (PVA), poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and chitosan were made by freezing/thawing and ^60Co γ-ray irradiation. The hydrogels were obtained by physical crosslinking of freezing/thawing and chemical crosslinking of irradiation. The solid concentration of PVA/PVP/PEG/chitosan was 15 wt% and the concentration of chitosan was 0.3wt%. The ratio of PVA PVP was 6 : 4, and molecular weight of PEG was 300, 4000 and 6000. The concentration of PEG was in the range of 1~7wt%. The number of repeated freezing/thawing was in the range of 1~3 times, and gamma irradiation doses were 25, 35 and 50 kGy. The physical properties of gelation, water absorptivity, gel strength and degree of water evaporation of the hydrogels were examined. Gel content and gel strength increased as PEC molecular weight increased and as PEG concentration decreased. Degree of swelling increased as PEG molecular weight decreased and as PEG concentration increased. Gel content and gel strength increased as irradiation dose and the number of freezing/thawing increased, whereas degree of swelling decreased as irradiation dose and the number of freezing/thawing increased. The evaporation speed of water decreased as PEG concentration increased. The hydrogels were found to be useful for wound dressing.

본 연구에서는, 생체적합성이 우수한 poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)차 치료효과가 우수한 수용성 키토산을 혼합하여 상처치료용 하이드로겔을 제조하였다. 제조 방법으로 수용액의 동결/융해에 의한 물리적 가교, 방사선 조사에 의한 화학가교 및 동결/융해의 물리적 가교 후 방사선 가교를 이용하여 하이드로겔을 제조하였다. 하이드로겔 제조시 PVA/PVP/PEG/키토산 농도는 15 wt%, 키토산은 0.3 wt%, PVA와 PVP의 비는 6:4로 고정하였다. 실험에 사용된 PEG의 분자량은 300, 4000, 6000이었다. 용액내 PEG의 농도를 1~7 wt%로 변화시켰으며, 동결/융해 횟수는 1~3회로 변화시켰고 방사선 조사량은 25, 35, 50 kGy로 변화시켰다. 위의 방법으로 제조된 하이드로겔의 겔화율, 팽윤도, 겔강도, 건조속도를 측정하였다. 겔화율과 겔강도는 PEG 분자량이 커질수록, PEG의 조성비가 적을수록 증가하였다. 팽윤도는 PEG의 분자량이 작을수 록, PEG의 조성비가 증가할수록 증가하였다. 조사량과 동결/융해 횟수가 증가할수록 겔화율과 겔강도는 증가하였고 팽윤도는 감소하였다. 건조속도는 PEG의 조성비가 증가할수록 느린 것을 알 수 있었다. 제조된 하이드로겔은 상처 치료용 드레싱으로 적합할 것으로 예상된다.