Chitosan conduits were sterilized with 60Co γ ray irradiation at a dose of 25 kGy and their swelling properties

mechanical properties and biodegradability in lysozyme solution were measured. After γ ray irradiation

the swelling index of chitosan conduit was considerably reduced and the tensile strength and elastic modulus were markedly increased. The results from SEM and measurement of mechanical properties showed that the degradation rate of the irradiated conduits in lysozyme solution was lower than that of the nonirradiated conduits. In addition

the chitosan conduits were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)

X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC)

and the influence mechanism of irradiation sterilization on the properties of chitosan conduits was explored.