Rheological Properties of Gel Systems Based on Gamma-Irradiated Lightly Crosslinked Polyacrylic Acid.

The effect of γ-irradiation of the gelling agent Carbomer 141G, which is lightly crosslinked polyacrylic acid, on the rheological properties of gels based on the carbomer has been studied. It has been found that an increase in the dose of γ-irradiation in air has a destructive effect on the polymer, leading to a decrease in rheological parameters, such as viscosity, yield strength, and hysteresis area. Irradiation of the carbomer in air with doses greater than 300 kGy leads to a significant decrease or the complete loss of its gel-forming properties. At the same time, irradiation of the carbomer with the same dose in vacuum causes as small a decline in viscosity as 2% compared to the initial systems. It has been established that the optimal gelling agent for obtaining stable antibacterial gels is the carbomer irradiated with a dose of 30 kGy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]