Radiation stability and modification of gelatin for biological and medical applications

Haema, K.*; Oyama, Tomoko; Kimura, Atsushi; Taguchi, Mitsumasa

For biological and medical applications, radiation sterilization of gelatin was evaluated in terms of radiation stability. It was found that electron beam irradiation decomposed the gelatin and that the weight-averaged molar mass decreased by approximately 7-10% with sterilization doses in the range of 5-25 kGy. Also, we found that the hydrolysis rate in 37C water was affected by the irradiation. On the other hand, crosslinking was predominantly induced when the gelatin was irradiated in water solution and radiation-crosslinked (RX) gelatin hydrogel was fabricated. Using gel fraction and gel permeation chromatography analysis of the eluted sol, it was determined that the RX-gelatin hydrogel was stable for 7 days in water at 37C.