Open Access Received: 15 April 2026   |   Accepted: 01 June 2026   |   Published: 02 July 2026

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE–SERICIN HYDROGEL REINFORCED WITH SILVER–BISMUTH BIMETALLIC NANOPARTICLES

Khilola B. Khabibullaeva, Foziljon M. Turakulov, Sardor S. Yarmatov, Javlon Z. Jalilov, Khaydar E. Yunusov

Institute of Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent 100128, Uzbekistan.

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Abstract. In this study, a biocomposite hydrogel was synthesized based on purified sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC) with a degree of substitution (DS) of 0.88 and a degree of polymerization (DP) of 850, together with sericin obtained from natural silk. The physicochemical properties of the obtained hydrogel were investigated: electrostatic interactions between the carboxyl (–COO⁻) groups of Na-CMC and the amide I and amide II groups of sericin macromolecules were identified in the FTIR spectrum within the range of 1600-1700 cm⁻¹. Rheological studies confirmed that intermolecular crosslinking between the functional groups of Na-CMC and sericin led to a proportional increase in the viscosity of the hydrogel. After lyophilization of the Na-CMC/sericin hydrogel, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a porous structure with pore sizes ranging from 20 to 110 μm. The synthesized Na-CMC/sericin biocomposites hydrogel containing stable Ag–Bi bimetallic nanoparticles with sizes of 5–160 nm demonstrate strong potential for application in medical practice as non-surgical therapeutic biomaterials for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcer disease.

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Key words. Sodium-carboxymethylcellulose, bimetallic nanoparticles, sericin, hydrogel, biocomposite, viscosity


DOI: 10.66640/UJP-2026-5-00008

*Corresponding author: Sardor S. Yarmatov, Institute of Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent 100128, Uzbekistan.

Citation: Khilola B. Khabibullaeva, Foziljon M. Turakulov, Sardor S. Yarmatov, Javlon Z. Jalilov, Khaydar E. Yunusov, SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE–SERICIN HYDROGEL REINFORCED WITH SILVER–BISMUTH BIMETALLIC NANOPARTICLES. Uzbekistan Journal of Polymers, Vol. 5(2) 2026: pp.19-27. DOI: 10.66640/UJP-2026-5-00008

©2026 Uzbekistan Journal of Polymers