Fabrication of natural polysaccharide based hydrogel with utility to entrap pollutants

Abstract

In the recent years of innovations hydrogels plays important role in various industrial applications. Hydrogels with combination of natural polymers are widely used for its biocompatibility and ecofriendly nature such as pectin and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Plasticizers are utilized to enrich the physicochemical characteristics of hydrogels based on natural polymers. Polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) is known to render thermostability. Whereas copper ions has wound healing properties and acts as biocide. These hydrogels due to its high porosity can have various utility to entrap small particles such as dust, pathogens and other pollutants and can act as very good face mask. Therefore the fabricated hydrogel is not only thermostable but also have high cytocompatibility, pH sensitivity, porosity and degree of swelling.