Synthesis, Characterization, and Swelling Performance of Chitosan‐Graft‐Poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate)

Abstract In recent years, interest in novel graft copolymers based on natural polysaccharides has increased. These copolymers combine the properties of natural polysaccharides with modern engineering, offering environmentally friendly, biocompatible, and functional materials for advanced applications. Using the initiators ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN), benzoyl peroxide (BPO), ammonium persulfate (APS), and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) on chitosan (CHS), chitosan‐grafted‐poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (CHS‐g‐P(EGD)) copolymers were synthesized with the ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGD) monomer free radical copolymerization technique. FTIR, DSC, TG, SEM, XRD, and SEC methods were used to determine the properties of the CHS‐g‐P(EGD) structure. The effects of initiator types (CAN, BPO, APS, and APS), EGD, BPO, and TEMED concentrations, reaction time, CHS percentage, and reaction temperature on grafting yield and grafting efficiency were examined, and the best values were found to be 205.73% and 92.24%, respectively. The surface morphology, swelling behavior, swelling kinetics, molar mass between cross‐links, and biocompatibility of the microspheres obtained from the graft copolymers were also investigated at pH 1.2 and 7.4 at a temperature of 37 °C. The best swelling percentage was obtained at pH 1.2, with a grafting yield of 151.12%. This value increased to 222.59% by the end of 240 min. The CHS‐g‐P(EGD) copolymer and its microspheres showed no toxicity in L929 fibroblast cells.