A Photoinitiator-Free Uv-Curable Hydrogel with Tunable Properties Using Dextrans Modified by Adamantane, Benzophenone, and Β-Cyclodextrin

Abstract

The backbones of dextran (Dex) with varying molecular weights were modified utilizing β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) as the host and adamantane (Ada) and benzophenone (Bzp) as guests. The inclusion complex that forms between β-CD and benzophenone facilitates the establishment of covalent bonds under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation without the necessity of photo-initiators, culminating in the creation of covalently crosslinked robust hydrogels. The chemical structures of the modified dextran were confirmed through the characteristic peaks observed in the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra. Adjustments in the anchor point ratio, chain length of the dextran backbone, solution concentration, and hydrogel composition effectively fine-tuned the rheological properties. These properties were systematically evaluated through rheometry, revealing non-Newtonian characteristics. In vitro assays demonstrated that the cytotoxicity of the hydrogel was negligible. This study seeks to evaluate the physicochemical and biological properties of these novel hydrogel materials for prospective biomedical applications.

Keywords: hydrogels, Cyclodextrin Polymers, Rheology