Electrical behavior of polymer hydrogel composed of poly(vinyl alcohol)-hyaluronic acid in solution

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN), as polymer hydrogels composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and hyaluronic acid (HA), which exhibited electrical sensitive behavior were prepared. The swelling behavior of the IPN/HA IPN was studied by immersing the gel in various concentrations of aqueous NaCl solutions and various pH buffer solutions. The response of the PVA/HA IPN to electric fields stimuli was also investigated. When swollen IPN was placed between a pair of electrodes, and an electric field applied, it exhibited bending behavior. The PVA/HA IPN also displayed stepwise bending behavior, depending on the magnitude of the electric stimulus. Also, for use in biosensors application. their bending behavior was studied in Hank's solution at pH 7.4. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.