Article
Polymer Science
Andrew Chung, Burak Tavsanli, Elizabeth R. Gillies
Summary: Hydrogels have diverse applications, and OPF has attracted attention for its tunable degradation. By introducing protected amines into OPF, the degradation rate can be controlled by triggering the cleavage of the polymer backbone. This approach can be applied to other stimuli, providing a versatile method to control OPF degradation.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Sohrab Rahmani, Mostafa Barzegar
Summary: In this study, dynamic amphiphilic hydrogels were successfully synthesized, showing suitable self-healing performance, pH-dependent degradation behavior, and improved thermal and mechanical properties.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eva Mueller, Fei Xu, Todd Hoare
Summary: This study demonstrates the 3D printing of hydrazone-crosslinked POEGMA hydrogels using the FRESH technique and a low-cost extrusion bioprinter. The dynamic nature of the hydrazone cross-links allows for the reconfiguration of the gel structure and maintains the degradability of the scaffold. Moreover, the POEGMA hydrogels support cell adhesion and viability.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ekkachai Martwong, Yvette Tran
Summary: The study reports on the synthesis and temperature-responsive properties of poly(PEGMA) hydrogel thin films. Surface-attached poly(PEGMA) hydrogel films were synthesized using a simple, versatile, and well-controlled thiol-ene click reaction method, with the transition temperature finely tunable by adjusting the number of PEG units. The LCST properties of the hydrogel films are not sensitive to salt, holding promise for applications in biology such as injectable hydrogels, drug delivery systems, microfluidic valves, and flow switches for biotechnologies.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jinyoung Hwang, Phuong Le Thi, Simin Lee, Eun-Hye Park, Eunmi Lee, Eunmin Kim, Kiyuk Chang, Ki Dong Park
Summary: Although numerous poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based bioadhesives have been developed and commercialized, their biocompatibility and bioactivity performances are generally lacking. To address these issues, chemically crosslinked gelatin-PEG adhesive hydrogels (GP) were designed through the enzymatic crosslinking reaction of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The GP hydrogels exhibited adjustable mechanical and adhesive properties and effectively improved tissue adhesiveness and bioactivity. They also showed promising potential for hemostatic and wound healing treatments.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Ionela Alice Podaru, Paul O. Stanescu, Raluca Ginghin, Stefania Stoleriu, Bogdan Tric, Raluca Somoghi, Mircea Teodorescu
Summary: This study investigates the synthesis and properties of nanocomposite hydrogels obtained by the aqueous solution free radical polymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) in the presence of Laponite XLG (XLG) as a crosslinker, and compares them with hydrogels prepared using conventional crosslinking agents. The results show that XLG is a better crosslinking agent than the conventional agent, leading to larger gel fractions and more homogeneous network hydrogels. Adding XLG as a second crosslinker significantly enhances the material properties.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Nicole E. Friend, Atticus J. McCoy, Jan P. Stegemann, Andrew J. Putnam
Summary: The formation of functional capillary blood vessels in engineered tissues remains a challenge. In this study, researchers investigated the effects of matrix properties on vessel network formation using PEG hydrogels. By varying the crosslinking ratio and incorporating cleavage sites, they found that reducing crosslinking or increasing degradability promoted vascularization and cell-mediated stiffening. These findings highlight the importance of cell-mediated remodeling for rapid vessel formation.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guodong Nian, Junsoo Kim, Xianyang Bao, Zhigang Suo
Summary: In this study, a novel method was developed to create hydrogels that are both swell-resistant and tough by densely entangling polymer chains at elevated temperatures and sparsely crosslinking them using UV light. This method is applicable to various synthetic and natural polymers and compatible with industrial processing technologies, opening doors to the development of sustainable and high-performance hydrogels.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Nathan R. Richbourg, Nicholas A. Peppas
Summary: Synthetic hydrogels are commonly used as artificial 3D environments for studying cell-environment interactions, but their representation of physical properties of biological tissues is limited. This study successfully decoupled stiffness and solute transport in hydrogels by manipulating four structural parameters of multi-arm PEG hydrogel formulations. The results suggest that this approach is validated and applicable for decoupling stiffness and solute transport in hydrogels, enabling precise hydrogel design for investigating cell-environment interactions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pawika Towongphaichayonte, Rangrong Yoksan
Summary: This study successfully fabricated polyelectrolyte complexes from mPEG-g-CTS and ALG, which could form fibrous network macrogels or spherical nanoparticles with different physicochemical properties depending on the mPEG chain length and weight ratios. These complexes have potential applications as carriers for functional food additives, drugs, and bioactive compounds.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Bing Zhang, Chen Yang, Yingfei Zheng, Yonghong Wu, Chunfeng Song, Qingling Liu, Zhi Wang
Summary: Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) prepared by incorporating Pebax polymers with 20 wt% PEG and 30 wt% NaY zeolite exhibited the maximum CO2/N2 selectivity of 107.9 and CO2 permeability of 172.6 Barrer. The designed membrane could directly enrich the concentration of CO2 from 15% to 96.7% in one step for CO2/N2 mixed gas.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mathilde Grosjean, Edouard Girard, Audrey Bethry, Gregory Chagnon, Xavier Garric, Benjamin Nottelet
Summary: This study designed degradable bioadhesives based on PEG-PLA star-shaped hydrogels and investigated the performance of acrylate, methacrylate, and catechol functional copolymers as bioadhesive hydrogels. The results showed that these bioadhesives reached adhesion strength comparable to commercial glues and exhibited low cytotoxicity, indicating their potential as surgical adhesives.
Article
Polymer Science
Corina Logigan, Christelle Delaite, Crina-Elena Tiron, Cristian Peptu, Marcel Popa, Catalina Anisoara Peptu
Summary: Chitosan hydrogels were prepared by chemical modification and double crosslinking in a water/oil emulsion. The modified chitosan showed better control of dimensional properties and morphology compared to neat chitosan. In addition, the modified hydrogels exhibited pH-dependent behavior and demonstrated excellent capacity for drug loading and release, making them suitable for controlled release applications in biomedicine.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chiara Allegretti, Paola D'Arrigo, Francesco G. Gatti, Letizia A. M. Rossato, Eleonora Ruffini
Summary: H-1-NMR spin lattice relaxation times (T-1) measured by inversion recovery technique were used to determine the stoichiometric coefficient of trimethylglycine betaine/diol based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) including ethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and 1,3-propandiol as H-bond donors. The maximum water content tolerated by the DESs before complete hydration was also determined. Furthermore, the method was validated by comparing the eutectic composition of the betaine/glycol system with that determined by differential scanning calorimetry analysis, and the stoichiometric coefficients were found to be identical.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Benjamin R. Nelson, Bruce E. Kirkpatrick, Connor E. Miksch, Matthew D. Davidson, Nathaniel P. Skillin, Grace K. Hach, Alex Khang, Sydney N. Hummel, Benjamin D. Fairbanks, Jason A. Burdick, Christopher N. Bowman, Kristi S. Anseth
Summary: Researchers have developed a viscoelastic hydrogel with adaptable crosslinks to mimic time and position-dependent processes in tissues. By using 1,2-dithiolanes as dynamic covalent photocrosslinkers, the hydrogel can respond to multiple stimuli. Cell encapsulation is achieved through ligand-accelerated dithiolane ring-opening photopolymerization, enabling the study of 2D and 3D cell-material interactions.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dieter Michael Scheibel, Dandan Guo, Juntao Luo, Ivan Gitsov
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kristina L. Goranova, Anne Kathrine Kattenhoj Sloth Overgaard, Ivan Gitsov
Summary: This study successfully prepared hydroxyapatite/polyester nanografts using graft-from polymerization method, and confirmed their feasibility as additives for commercial bone cement. The experimental results demonstrated that the addition of nanografts can improve the thermal and mechanical properties of the bone cement.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xin Liu, Lili Wang, Ivan Gitsov
Summary: This study introduces the first enzyme-mediated polymerization of dendritic macromonomers. The enzyme substrates, prepared by click conjugation, are defect-free and polymerize into dendronized polymers under benign conditions catalyzed by laccase, forming amphiphilic denpols that self-assemble in aqueous solutions with generation-dependent morphologies.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Liyuan Hou, Deepak Kumar, Chang Geun Yoo, Ivan Gitsov, Erica L. -W. Majumder
Summary: Wastewater treatment plants and landfills are important contributors of microplastics to environmental pollution. Current research focuses on the composition and life cycle of microplastics in these sites, as well as potential technologies for capturing and upcycling them.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nadya Dencheva, Sandra Oliveira, Joana Braz, Dariya Getya, Marc Malfois, Zlatan Denchev, Ivan Gitsov
Summary: This study demonstrates the successful non-covalent immobilization of Trametes versicolor laccase on neat and magnetically responsive polyamide 6 microparticles for catechol oxidation. The immobilized laccase exhibited higher activity than the native enzyme, with high adsorption efficiency and reusability.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Sang Won Lee, Joseph Carnicelli, Dariya Getya, Ivan Gitsov, K. Scott Phillips, Dacheng Ren
Summary: This study demonstrates that biofilms can be effectively removed through repeated on-demand shape recovery using reversible shape memory polymers. The mixture of 2000 and 15000 g/mol PCLDIMA in a 2:1 weight ratio showed the most promising shape transition close to body temperature. The synthesized rSMP showed good reversible shape recovery and up to 94.3 +/- 1.0% removal of 48 h Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 biofilm cells after three consecutive shape recovery cycles. Additionally, the detached biofilm cells were found to be 5.0 +/- 1.2 times more susceptible to 50 mu g/mL tobramycin than the static control.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Maia Merlani, Dieter M. Scheibel, Vakhtang Barbakadze, Lali Gogilashvili, Lela Amiranashvili, Athina Geronikaki, Valentina Catania, Domenico Schillaci, Giuseppe Gallo, Ivan Gitsov
Summary: This study reports the enzymatic synthesis of oligomer analogues of poly[3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)glyceric acid]. The synthetic polymer PMDHPO exhibits promising antimicrobial activity against pathogenic strains S.aureus ATCC 25923 and E.coli ATCC 25922.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Shan Yan, Dong K. Dinh, Guojun Shang, Shan Wang, Wei Zhao, Xin Liu, Richard Robinson, Jack P. Lombardi, Ning He, Susan Lu, Mark Poliks, Benjamin S. Hsiao, Ivan Gitsov, Chuan-Jian Zhong
Summary: This study demonstrates the creation of chemically responsive electro-functionality in nonconductive, hydrophobic, and free-contacted textile or fibrous network materials by embedding size-tunable gold nanoparticles and structurally sensitive dendrons as crosslinkers in an electrospun polymeric fibrous substrate. The resulting fibrous structure shows high sensitivity to molecular interactions and exhibits chemiresistive responses to vaporous alcohol molecules with different chain lengths and isomers. This approach utilizes the multifunctional tunability of the nano-filaments in a sensor array format, providing potential applications in breath and sweat sensing as well as environmental monitoring of air quality.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Correction
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Shan Yan, Dong K. Dinh, Guojun Shang, Shan Wang, Wei Zhao, Xin Liu, Richard Robinson, Jack P. Lombardi, Ning He, Susan Lu, Mark Poliks, Benjamin S. Hsiao, Ivan Gitsov, Chuan-Jian Zhong
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Dariya Getya, Ivan Gitsov
Summary: This paper presents a novel method for preparing polymer composites with uniformly dispersed natural fibers in the polymer matrix. The cellulose is chemically modified with polymerizable styrene moieties and transformed into a multifunctional cellulose-polymer that can be crosslinked through copolymerization with styrene. The viability of this method is confirmed through reactions with model compounds, and commercially available cellulose nanofibers are also transformed into composites using the same approach. The resulting composites exhibit improved thermal and mechanical properties, thanks to the homogeneous distribution of cellulose entities.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Puskal Kunwar, Bianca Louise Andrada, Arun Poudel, Zheng Xiong, Ujjwal Aryal, Zachary J. J. Geffert, Sajag Poudel, Daniel Fougnier, Ivan Gitsov, Pranav Soman
Summary: We introduce a new method to shape double-network (DN) hydrogels into customized 3D structures with superior mechanical properties. This method involves optimizing a prepolymer formulation containing acrylamide and κ-carrageenan to create tough DN hydrogels. We use a TOPS system to photopolymerize the primary acrylamide network, while cooling generates the secondary κ-carrageenan network, resulting in highly resilient DN hydrogel structures. These 3D structures exhibit high stress and strain under tension, as well as high compression stress and strain, with excellent recovery rates. Furthermore, we demonstrate the potential of this technology by printing a flexible axicon lens that can dynamically tune a Bessel beam.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dariya Getya, Alec Lucas, Ivan Gitsov
Summary: Pollution with organic dyes is a typical environmental problem related to industrial wastewater. This paper reports the synthesis of novel fortified hydrogels that can bind and remove organic dyes from aqueous solutions, offering potential for environmental remediation. These hydrophilic conetworks consist of chemically modified poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-m) and multifunctional cellulose macromonomers (cellu-mers).
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Xin Liu, F. Max Yavitt, Ivan Gitsov
Summary: This study focuses on the synthesis of amphiphilic linear-dendritic block copolymers and their self-assembly in water to form supramolecular nanoreactors. The block copolymers were successfully synthesized through copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition. The self-assembly of the copolymers was characterized, and the micelles formed showed efficient chelating groups for transition metals. The catalytic activity of the supramolecular linear-dendritic/Pd complexes in Suzuki-Miyaura reactions was tested and showed high yields under green conditions.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xin Liu, Zhiyue Gao, Die Wang, Fengjie Yu, Baoshuai Du, Ivan Gitsov
Summary: Organic coatings are an effective way to improve the corrosion resistance of metals. This study presents a feasible method of preparing modified halloysite nanotubes and using them as multifunctional anticorrosion additives for environmentally friendly coatings. The incorporation of a corrosion inhibitor enhances the corrosion resistance and self-healing potential of the coatings.
Article
Polymer Science
Dariya Getya, Ivan Gitsov
Summary: This study aimed to synthesize novel semi-interpenetrating networks and amphiphilic conetworks by combining hydrophilic soft matter (Gellan Gum, GG) with hydrophobic rigid poly(styrene), PSt. The resulting conetworks showed improved thermal and mechanical properties compared to pure poly(styrene) and pure GG gels. These conetworks also exhibited high binding ability towards several organic dyes, suggesting their potential use in environmental clean-up.