ABSTRACT
Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is a powerful tool for
structural investigation of polysaccharide hydrogels because the
scattering contrast between gel network chains and the solvent can
be significantly enhanced by using D2O. SANS functions are usually
obtained in absolute intensity scale, allowing one to evaluate the
molecular and structure parameters, such as molecular weight and
number of aggregates. Furthermore, contrast-variation SANS allows
extraction of targeting part in the gel networks. In this chapter,
the characteristic features and advantages of SANS are described,
followed by recent progress of SANS studies on hydrogels with the
emphasis of polysaccharides.
