Establishing correlations among vinylsulfonic acid, vinylphosphonic acid and acrylic acid functionalities and the biomedical properties of hydrogels: a comparative analysis

Abstract

Recently, various attempts have been made to establish correlations between the functional groups of polymers and their biomedical properties. This information is important for regulating the functional properties of copolymeric hydrogel materials owing to their control over their ionization and polarity. These correlations enable the rational design and optimization of the properties of polymers for specific applications. The present study provides a comprehensive comparative evaluation of the influence of poly(vinylsulfonic acid) (PVSA), poly(vinylphosphonic acid) (PVPA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) on the physicochemical and biological performance of Sterculia gum (SG)-based hydrogels. It also provides systematic insights into their suitability for diverse applications, such as wound healing and drug delivery (DD). A comparative account of key properties, including swelling, biocompatibility, antioxidant activity, protein adsorption, mucosal adhesion, porosity and antimicrobial activity, was conducted with respect to different polymers. SG-cl-PVSA exhibited the highest swelling capacity (12.92 ± 1.18 g g⁻¹ at 47 °C), porosity (48.22% ± 1.24%) and antimicrobial efficacy against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, along with superior blood compatibility due to its high hydrophilicity and low protein adsorption. SG-cl-PAAc demonstrated better mucoadhesive properties (detachment force of 134.33 ± 10.6 mN) and antioxidant activity. These findings highlight how functional modification of the SG backbone modulates hydrogel performance, enabling the tailored design of next-generation biomaterials for specific biomedical applications, including controlled DD, wound dressings and bioadhesive patches.