Horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed formation of hydrogels from chitosan and poly(vinyl alcohol) derivatives both possessing phenolic hydroxyl groups.

Horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed cross-linking was applied to prepare hydrogels from aqueous solutions containing chitosan and poly(vinyl alcohol) derivatives both possessing phenolic hydroxyl groups (denoted as Ph-chitosan and Ph-PVA, respectively). Comparing the hydrogels prepared from the solution of 1.0% (w/v) Ph-chitosan and 3.0% (w/v) Ph-PVA and that of 3.0% (w/v) Ph-chitosan and 1.0% (w/v) Ph-PVA, the gelation time of the former hydrogel was 47 s, while was 10s longer than that of the latter one. The breaking point for the former hydrogel under stretching (114% strain) was approximately twice larger than that for the latter one. The swelling ratio of the former hydrogel in saline was about half of the latter one. Fibroblastic cells did not adhere on the former hydrogel but adhered and spread on the latter one. The growth of Escherichia coli cells was fully suppressed on the latter hydrogel during 48 h cultivation.