Periodate-Modified Gum Arabic Cross-linked PVA Hydrogels: A Promising Approach toward Photoprotection and Sustained Delivery of Folic Acid

The chemically oxidized gum arabic was prepared and used as a naturally derived nontoxic and pH-responsive cross-linker to develop smart polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based hydrogels for the first time. The formulated hydrogels exhibited high mechanical properties, good porosity, and pH sensitivity, which facilitated their application as promising biomaterials for sustained delivery of folic acid. Further, the synthesized cross-linked PVA hydrogels...