Abstract:In this study, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) hydrogels were successfully prepared by electron beam irradiation. The morphology and mechanical properties of the hydrogels were examined by scanning electron microscopy and tensile testing, which indicated that the compressive strength of the hydrogels was closely associated with their pore wall thickness. In addition, the equilibrium swelling ratio of the hydrogels was evaluated in both distilled water and different physiological media, which indicated that their maximum swelling ratio was higher in water than that in physiological media. Moreover, their maximum swelling ratio decreased with an increase in salt concentration. The fabricated cellulose-based hydrogels were shown to be promising for applications in drug delivery systems and the field of biomaterials.