Fabrication and Characterization of Electroresponsive Hydrogel Fiber Based on Xanthan Gum and Gelatin

Xanthan gum and gelatin methacrylate were synthesized to prepare photocrosslinked hybrid hydrogels. Time sweep and creep-recovery tests were performed to monitor the photocrosslinking process, and to evaluate the mechanical deformation and recovery for xanthan gum and gelatin methacrylate hydrogels. The results indicated that the crosslinking reaction was triggered by the UV light with an initiator to form network structures and achieved reaction equilibrium rapidly (less than 380s). The photocrosslinked hydrogels represented less deformation and higher ratio of recovery than those of the native hydrogels. The thixotropy behaviour was studied, and the results suggested that the native hydrogels exhibited a pseudo-plastic behaviour with positive values of hysteresis loop and relative high viscosity. Furthermore, photocrosslinked hydrogel fibers were fabricated and characterized. The relatively high concentration of negative charges (COO-) was contributed to relatively high bending speed and total bending angle for the hydrogel fibers. This work provides some valuable and fundamental information of the photocrosslinked hydrogels based on nature polymers for further application in functional biomaterials and tissue engineering.