Abstract

Regarding the sustainability point of view, this study is dedicated to the use of two bio-based star-shaped crosslinkers for superabsorbent hydrogel (SAP) applications as replacement of fossil-based counterparts. The epoxide crosslinker (E-st-G-SA) was synthesized from the reaction of a star-shaped macromonomer based-on glycerol and succinic acid with epichlorohydrin. The second crosslinker (C-st-G-SA) was prepared through the CO₂ fixation reaction of E-st-G-SA. After characterization of crosslinkers by ¹H NMR and FTIR spectroscopies, E-st-G-SA was used as an internal crosslinker for SAP formulations. Next, the potential of E-st-G-SA and C-st-G-SA as surface crosslinkers for the abovementioned SAP was examined and C-st-G-SA presented a significant improvement of swelling under load up to − 38%, so it was selected as the preferred surface crosslinker for additional investigations. Moreover, rheological properties of the surface crosslinked SAPs demonstrated a higher swollen gel strength compared to that of intact SAP. The thermal stability of the intact and surface crosslinked samples was compared and the result showed an overall similar trend. Finally, the antibacterial activity of samples was evaluated and the results presented a satisfactory antibacterial property especially against S. aureus bacterium for the surface crosslinked sample but not for the intact one.

Graphic Abstract

中文翻译：

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环氧和环碳酸星状大分子作为生物基内部和外部交联剂，用于超吸收性聚合物水凝胶

摘要

关于可持续性观点，本研究致力于将两种生物基星形交联剂用于超吸收性水凝胶（SAP）应用，以替代化石基对应物。环氧交联剂（E-st-G-SA）是由基于甘油和琥珀酸的星形大分子单体与环氧氯丙烷反应合成的。通过E-st-G-SA的CO ₂固定反应制备第二种交联剂（C-st-G-SA）。用¹表征交联剂后1 H NMR和FTIR光谱学中，E-st-G-SA用作SAP制剂的内部交联剂。接下来，研究了E-st-G-SA和C-st-G-SA作为上述SAP的表面交联剂的潜力，C-st-G-SA在负载下溶胀达到-38％时表现出显着改善，因此被选作其他研究的首选表面交联剂。此外，与完整的SAP相比，表面交联的SAP的流变特性显示出更高的溶胀凝胶强度。比较了完整和表面交联样品的热稳定性，结果显示出总体上相似的趋势。最后，对样品的抗菌活性进行了评估，结果显示令人满意的抗菌性能，尤其是对金黄色葡萄球菌的抗菌性能。 细菌用于表面交联的样品，而不是完整的样品。

图形摘要