Synthesis and characterization of modified polyvinyl alcohol (AVA) based hydrogels containing essential oils that can be used in medical applications

Hydrogels are widely used in many areas such as wound dressings, tissue engineering scaffolds and controlled drug release systems in medical applications due to their high water retention capacity, soft tissue-like elastic structures and biocompatible properties. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which is frequently preferred for the purpose, attracts attention with its hydrophilic structure, chemical stability and non-toxicity. However, having limited functional groups limits its cross-linkability and versatile usage potential. In this context, PVA is chemically modified with maleic anhydride (MA) to gain reactive groups and thus both its cross-linkability with UV light and its functionality are increased. In this thesis study, hybrid hydrogel systems were synthesized by mixing modified maleated PVA (PVA-MA) with biologically based gelatin at a ratio of 3:1 and curing under UV light with crosslinkers such as N,N′-Methylenebisacrylamide (MBAm) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). Then, lavender essential oil was added to this structure at different ratios (4%, 7%, 10%, 13%, 18%) to form both antimicrobial and emulsion hydrogel forms of the system. Thus, in this study, it was also aimed to develop biphasic and therapeutic emulsion hydrogels that can encapsulate the hydrophobic essential oil phase together with classical hydrogel structures. The morphology, thermal stability, swelling values and antibacterial activities of the produced modified PVA/gelatin hydrogels were investigated. As a result, this thesis study offers an innovative approach that goes beyond classical hydrogel systems and designs and characterizes emulsion-structured, dual-phase, essential oil-loaded hydrogel systems. It has been determined that the obtained systems have the potential to be used especially in the biomedical field, especially as antibacterial wound dressings. In addition, thanks to UV cross-linking, an environmentally friendly and fast-curing material system suitable for industrial production has been developed.