Investigation of self-healing properties of nanocomposite polymer-modified natural hydrogels

Recently, the use of nanocomposite hydrogels that can repair small cracks caused by various external stresses has been considered. [۱] Self-healing property refers to the ability of a substance to repair damage and restore original function inherently or non-intrinsically. [۲]In this study, natural hydrophilic materials such as gelatin and salep were used as the primary material to prepare hydrogels. To improve the properties of the hydrogel, the Reversible Addition Fragmentation Polymerization method (RAFT) was used to modify thehydrogel, and finally synthesized Fe۳O۴ magnetic nanoparticles [۳] was incorporated into the matrix to prepare hydrogel nanocomposites that have self-healing properties. The use of Fe۳O۴ nanoparticles and synthetic polymer not only improves the mechanical properties of nanocomposites but also makes them efficient in some applications like adsorbents and smart biomaterials. [۴]The structure of the synthesized hydrogels was characterized by FTIR, FESEM, XRD, and EDAX analysis. The self-healing properties of hydrogels were investigated by making incisions and placing them under a magnetic field. The swelling rate of synthetic hydrogels in acidic, alkaline, and neutral conditions was investigated by changing the amount of crosslinking agent and different amounts of synthesized nanoparticles. The addition of synthetic nanoparticles to the structure of hydrogels increased structural strength, improved swelling, and self-healing properties.