Physicomechanical, rheological and in vitro cytocompatibility properties of the electron beam irradiated blend hydrogels of tyramine conjugated gum tragacanth and poly (vinyl alcohol).

In the present study, preparation of blend hydrogels of tyramine conjugated gum tragacanth and poly (vinyl alcohol) was carried out by electron beam irradiation, and modification of hydrogel properties with poly (vinyl alcohol) was demonstrated. Gel content, swelling behavior, pore size and mechanical and rheological properties of hydrogels prepared at 14, 28 and 56 kilogray (kGy) with different ratios of polymers were investigated. Gel content increased from 67 ± 2% for pure tyramine conjugated gum tragacanth hydrogel to >92% for blend hydrogels. However, the corresponding equilibrium swelling degree decreased from 35.21 ± 1.51 to 9.14 ± 1.66 due to the higher crosslink density of blend hydrogel. The mechanical strength of the hydrogels with interconnected pores increased significantly in the presence of poly (vinyl alcohol) and increasing irradiation dose up to 28 kGy with a twenty-fold enhancement of stress fracture and excellent elastic recovery in cyclic compression analysis. The equilibrium swelling degree of blend hydrogel containing 3% w/v tyramine conjugated gum tragacanth and 2% w/v poly (vinyl alcohol) prepared at 28 kGy was 16.59 ± 0.81. The biocompatibility of hydrogels was tested in the presence of rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. The viability of cells exposed to hydrogel extract was >92% after 7 days of culture and indicated hydrogel biocompatibility with potential biomedical applications.