PROTEIN ADSORPTION ON POLY(VINYL ALCOHOL) HYDROGELS

Translucent and transparent PVA hydrogels were prepared by low-temperature crystallization from the PVA solutions in water and a mixed solvent of water and dimethyl sulfoxide (20:80). Protein adsorption was conducted at 37-degrees-C using I-125-labeled gamma-globulin (IgG), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and lysozyme. Labeling of the proteins with I-125 was performed by the chloramine-T method. The amount of protein adsorbed on the transparent PVA hydrogel was much less than that on the translucent PVA hydrogel and PHEMA hydrogel. The amounts of IgG and BSA adsorbed on the transparent PVA hydrogel were independent of the water content of PVA hydrogel, in contrast to lysozyme whose adsorption decreased with the decreasing water content of PVA hydrogel. It is confirmed that the transparent PVA hydrogel has relatively low protein adsorption and excellent mechanical properties.