im working on the photocrosslinking of hydrogels and want to check whether crosslinking happened with the material I have.
If you can dissolve the hydrogel in a solvent, you could run the solution through a size exclusion column, or use dynamic light scattering or laser diffraction, to measure the size distribution of the components. Crosslinking would increase the size distribution.
Another approach would be to measure the viscosity or tensile strength of the hydrogel, which would be expected to be altered by crosslinking.
Dear Edwin K Johns, the simplest way is to check solubility/swelling ability of the gel. Gels became unsoluble and less swellable as the crosslink density increased.
Measuring Tg is another option, as it goes up with increased crosslink density. My Regards
To assess photocrosslinking in hydrogels, use rheological measurements, swelling ratio comparison, and degradation studies. Microscopy, spectroscopy, and mechanical testing provide further insights into structural and property changes. A combination of these methods comprehensively evaluates the extent of cross-linking