Tailoring polyvinyl alcohol multifunctional biogels with salecan: rheological and thermal insights with model fitting

Abstract A multifunctional biogel was developed by incorporating the polysaccharide Salecan into a boric acid-crosslinked PVA hydrogel (PSs). The composite biogel (PSB) demonstrated enhanced thermal stability, with a 7.4 °C increase in the thermal degradation temperature compared to pure PVA hydrogel. Additionally, PSB exhibited excellent antifreeze capability, with a low freezing point of −19.8 °C, making it suitable for encapsulating and delivering bioactive ingredients. Rheological analysis and model fitting data further revealed that the incorporation of Salecan improved the elasticity and thermal stability of pure PVA hydrogels. It is worth noting that the composite hydrogel PSF incorporating Sal has a maximum sol–gel transition temperature of 35 °C and a self-recovery capability of 95%. These improvements suggest that Salecan boosts PVA hydrogel performance by overcoming limitations in durability and stability, offering a more practical and eco-conscious alternative for applications in the biomedical, and flexible device industries.