RADIATION PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY, vol.55, pp.717-721, 1999 (SCI-Expanded)
The effects of external stimuli such as pH of the buffer solution, ionic strength, temperature and the amount of poly-electrolyte monomer in the hydrogel system on the Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) adsorption capacity of poly(acrylamide/maleic acid) [P(AAm/MA)] hydrogels were investigated. Poly-electrolyte P(AAm/MA) hydrogels with varying compositions were prepared by irradiating acrylamide/maleic acid/water mixtures with gamma rays at ambient temperature. Langmuir type adsorption isotherms were observed for all prepared hydrogels. Increase of ionic strength of the buffer solution from 0.01 to 0.1 mol dm(-3) decreased the adsorption capacity of hydrogels and zero adsorption was observed in the presence of 0.1 mol dm(-3) Na+ and Ca2+ ion in the adsorption medium. The adsorption capacity of hydrogels was found to increase from 0 to 120 mg BSA/g dry gel, by changing external stimuli and hydrogel composition.