Review
Chemistry, Physical
Abdalla H. Karoyo, Lee D. Wilson
Summary: Hydrogels are hydrophilic 3D networks made of natural polymers with excellent properties for biomedical applications. They have high water absorption capacity and biocompatibility, and require variable time to reach equilibrium swelling at different diffusion rates.
Article
Polymer Science
Caroline Cagnin, Bruno Matheus Simoes, Fabio Yamashita, Avacir Casanova Andrello, Gizilene Maria de Carvalho, Maria Victoria Eiras Grossmann
Summary: This study successfully developed starch/caboxymethyl cellulose hydrogels with porous structure using reactive extrusion to promote crosslinking, and found that mixed hydrogels had higher porosity and open pore percentage, especially sensitive to pH variations. Starch/carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogels showed excellent water absorption performance, and the reactive extrusion process was proven to be an efficient production method.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zhouzhou Pan, Laurence Brassart
Summary: Biodegradable synthetic hydrogels have shown promise for tissue engineering and drug/cell delivery applications, but successful implementation requires a precise understanding of degradation response. This work presents a thermodynamically-consistent framework and constitutive models for simulating degradation-induced swelling in hydrogels, validated against experimental data. The models could be beneficial for designing hydrogels with controlled degradation behavior.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICS AND PHYSICS OF SOLIDS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Violeta Popescu, Andreia Molea, Marioara Moldovan, Pompilia Mioara Lopes, Amalia Mazilu Moldovan, George Liviu Popescu
Summary: This paper describes the production of a new type of hydrogel based on whey protein isolates and gelatin, which can be used for drug delivery and tissue healing. Whey protein hydrolysates obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of whey protein are characterized using FT-IR and UV-VIS spectroscopy.
Article
Polymer Science
Qianyu Yang, Chen Gao, Xuemei Zhang, Xingyu Zhao, Yiqing Fu, Chihui Tsou, Chunyan Zeng, Li Yuan, Zejun Pu, Yiqing Xia, Yuping Sheng, Yu Fang
Summary: The study introduces a dual-responsive shape memory hydrogel with swelling and self-healing properties, where the hydrogels can be fixed in a provisional shape and restored under external stimulation. The dual physically cross-linked (DPC) network structure provides the hydrogels with excellent fracture stress and toughness, as well as outstanding self-healing capability. The pH and saline responsive swelling properties add to the fantastic attributes of the shape memory hydrogels.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Aleksey D. Drozdov, Jesper de Claville Christiansen
Summary: Thermo-responsive hydrogels of the LCST type swell below T-c and collapse above T-c, with modulation of T-c conventionally achieved by copolymerization with monomers of varying hydrophilicity. Introduction of polyelectrolyte monomers results in properties dependent on pH and ionic strength.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Junsoo Kim, Tenghao Yin, Zhigang Suo
Summary: When a polymer network is stretched, not all polymer strands bear loads. However, when the polymer network is submerged in a solvent, all strands mix with solvent molecules. This led to the modification of the Flory-Rehner model, which now includes parameters for load-bearing strands, all strands, and interaction. By fitting the modified model to various experiments, it was found that in all samples tested, M is several times N, and x is nearly constant.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICS AND PHYSICS OF SOLIDS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Jing Liao, Huihua Huang
Summary: This study prepared chitin hydrogels with different molecular weights using ultrasonic degradation and investigated the effects of molecular weight on the properties of the hydrogels. The results showed that the decrease in molecular weight resulted in weaker gel strength and increased swelling degree. The formation of chitin hydrogels occurred through cross-linking the smallest nano-scale solid domains, and the gel yield decreased as the molecular weight decreased.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhiyuan Sun, Chao Dong, Bingda Chen, Wenbo Li, Huiyuan Hu, Jinsheng Zhou, Chong Li, Zhandong Huang
Summary: A strong and tough conductive polymer hydrogel with excellent anti-swelling properties is developed by incorporating hydrogen, coordination bonds, and cation-π interactions between a rigid conducting polymer and a soft hydrogel matrix. The obtained supramolecular hydrogel has remarkable tensile strength (1.63 MPa), superior elongation at break (453%), and remarkable toughness (5.5 MJ m(-3)). As a strain sensor, the hydrogel possesses high electrical conductivity (2.16 S m(-1)), a wide strain linear detection range (0-400%), and excellent sensitivity (gauge factor = 4.1), sufficient to monitor human activities with different strain windows. Furthermore, this hydrogel with high swelling resistance has been successfully applied to underwater sensors for monitoring frog swimming and underwater communication.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas B. H. Schroeder, Joanna Aizenberg
Summary: The authors demonstrate area-selective activation of thermoresponsive processes by exothermic crystallization of sodium acetate into trihydrate crystals within a patterned polyacrylamide hydrogel.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Marguerite Meeremans, Lana Van Damme, Ward De Spiegelaere, Sandra Van Vlierberghe, Catharina De Schauwer
Summary: Thiol-ene crosslinked gelatins using DTT as a crosslinker are preferred biomaterials for tenocyte culture due to their lower gel fraction/storage modulus and higher swelling ratio compared to other gelatin hydrogels. These hydrogels support cell proliferation, viability, and morphology, with potential for further evaluation in complex models.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Ankur Sood, Seong Min Ji, Anuj Kumar, Sung Soo Han
Summary: Developing bioactive hydrogels for bone tissue engineering is a key challenge, with enzyme-based crosslinking methods considered the optimal approach for designing efficient hydrogel systems. Utilizing different enzymes as crosslinking agents allows for efficient preparation of hydrogels and their application in bone tissue engineering.
Article
Polymer Science
Leonid Iliasov, Andrey Shibaev, Irina Panova, Petr Kushchev, Olga Philippova, Alexander Yaroslavov
Summary: Six cross-linked copolymers were synthesized with sodium acrylate, N-acrylamide, starch fragments, and a cross-linker, potentially suitable for use in agriculture as superabsorbents. The copolymers formed hydrogel particles when swelled in a pH 6.5 aqueous buffer solution. The cross-linking degree controlled the swelling pressure of hydrogels and water-retaining properties of solid substrates with embedded hydrogels, providing important insights for the synthesis and optimization of polymeric superabsorbents.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chen Zhang, Yuhong Qi, Zhanping Zhang
Summary: In this study, freeze-drying technology was used to fix and preserve the microstructure of hydrogels swollen in seawater. The swelling behavior and mechanism of the hydrogels were investigated using various analytical techniques. The structure and properties of hydrogels with different contents of polystyrene microspheres were analyzed before and after seawater swelling. The results showed that the swelling process of the hydrogels went through three stages and was influenced by the content of polystyrene microspheres.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Raju Bej, Rainer Haag
Summary: Mucus hydrogels at biointerfaces play a crucial role in protecting against foreign pathogens and facilitating biological functions of underlying cells. Developing a synthetic model system that mimics the properties and functions of native mucus and can be synthesized on a large scale would greatly advance mucus-related research for understanding infectious diseases. However, synthesizing such biofunctional hydrogels in the lab is highly challenging due to their complex chemical compositions and specific chemical interactions within the gel network. This perspective discusses the chemical structures and physicochemical interactions responsible for the unique properties and functions of mucus hydrogels, explores different approaches for preparing mucus-inspired hydrogels, and highlights the challenges and opportunities in achieving desired de novo synthetic mucus hydrogels.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Xinyu Zhuang, Yanxin Qi, Maopeng Wang, Ning Yu, Fulong Nan, He Zhang, Mingyao Tian, Chang Li, Huijun Lu, Ningyi Jin
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Shiwei Jing, Huanhuan Guo, Yanxin Qi, Guifu Yang, Yubin Huang
APPLIED RADIATION AND ISOTOPES
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sha Liu, Jie Yu, Qingfei Zhang, Hongtong Lu, Xuepeng Qiu, Dongfang Zhou, Yanxin Qi, Yubin Huang
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yanxin Qi, Shiwei Jing, Shasha He, Hejian Xiong, Guohua Yang, Yubin Huang, Ningyi Jin
Summary: Combining DCA with fast neutron radiotherapy using multilayered nanofiber loading system showed promising results in inhibiting tumor growth, suggesting a new approach for synergistic tumor therapy.
Review
Instruments & Instrumentation
Yanxin Qi, ShuXin Zhang, Mi Zhang, Zili Zhou, Xinyi Zhang, Wenhui Li, HongXin Cai, Bing Cheng Zhao, Eui-Seok Lee, Heng Bo Jiang
Summary: Physical stimulation in the field of stomatology plays a key role in the treatment and prevention of common oral diseases, with various applications still undergoing research.
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Shuxin Zhang, Xuehan Li, Yanxin Qi, Xiaoqian Ma, Shuzhan Qiao, HongXin Cai, Bing Cheng Zhao, Heng Bo Jiang, Eui-Seok Lee
Summary: Autogenous odontogenic materials are a novel and highly biocompatible option for jaw restoration, promoting bone reconstruction and repair through different components and showing distinct characteristics compared to traditional bone substitutes, warranting further research.
TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yong Pan, Yanxin Qi, Xiaoyuan Li, Shifang Luan, Yubin Huang
Summary: A new type of particulate subunit vaccine has been developed, using microgels to protect the antigen and mannose modification to enhance the endocytosis efficiency of APCs, showing promise in improving vaccine efficacy.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Kaixuan Ren, Matthew C. Blosser, Noah Malmstadt
Summary: The study demonstrates the light-triggered unique shape transformation of calcein-loaded giant polymersomes, which form tubular protrusions and budded vesicles under excitation. The initial polymersomes transform to connected spherical vesicles, and eventually to a mother vesicle with an inner daughter vesicle, providing a potential platform to mimic cell morphology changes.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Qian Meng, Hongmei Meng, Yong Pan, Jiayu Liu, Jiaai Li, Yanxin Qi, Yubin Huang
Summary: Nanoparticles for drug delivery offer great potential in improving drug delivery efficiency and reducing systemic toxicity, especially in the treatment of epilepsy. The size of nanoparticles plays a significant role in cell uptake efficiency and penetration of the blood-brain barrier, with smaller particles being more effective in internalization and brain accumulation.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Jie Yu, Sha Liu, Yupeng Wang, Xidong He, Qingfei Zhang, Yanxin Qi, Dongfang Zhou, Zhigang Xie, Xiaoyuan Li, Yubin Huang
Summary: The combination of tumor ablation and immunotherapy is a promising strategy against tumor relapse and metastasis. Researchers have developed platinum nanoparticles conjugated with a PD-L1 inhibitor, which can enhance immune cell activity and antigen presentation, thereby strengthening the anti-tumor immune response.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Shuxin Zhang, Xinyi Zhang, Yanli Li, Xuran Mao, Rui Liu, Yanxin Qi, Eui-Seok Lee, Heng Bo Jiang
Summary: This study compared the effects of autogenous odontogenic materials, autogenous, allogeneic, and xenogeneic bone grafts in bone defect repair through systematic assessment and network meta-analysis, demonstrating that autogenous odontogenic materials had stronger effects on bone repair.
TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Min Shi, Huadong Peng, Yuanxing Lin, Yiming Ma, Yanxin Qi
Summary: This study focuses on developing artificial intelligence for elderly care design and discusses its role and application in physiotherapy care. Artificial intelligence, as an emerging technology, has had a significant impact on economic development and social progress, with broad application scope. However, there is still some ambiguity and misunderstanding surrounding AI, highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Zhixuan Yang, Kaixuan Ren, Yehao Chen, Xinyan Quanji, Chengfeng Cai, Jingbo Yin
Summary: Hypoxia in chronic wounds impairs reparative cells and delays wound healing. Oxygen-generating hydrogels that release dissolved oxygen in the wound bed offer a potential solution to alleviate hypoxia and accelerate chronic wound healing.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yanran Li, Zigui Wang, Yanxin Qi, Zhaohui Tang, Xiaoyuan Li, Yubin Huang
Summary: In this study, a Pt-IV prodrug that can be activated in a spatiotemporally controllable manner inside the mitochondria of cancer cells was designed. The prodrug effectively released cisplatin upon red light exposure, leading to increased cytotoxicity and accumulation in cancer cells. This work demonstrates the potential of controllably activated and mitochondrion-targeting Pt-IV prodrugs to overcome chemotherapy drug resistance.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Hongtong Lu, Shasha He, Qingfei Zhang, Xiaoyuan Li, Zhigang Xie, Zigui Wang, Yanxin Qi, Yubin Huang
Summary: This study developed dual-sensitive dual-prodrug nanoparticles (DDNPs) for photoactivated platinum-based synergistic chemotherapy, releasing demethylcantharidin to enhance the effect of platinum-based chemotherapy. DDNPs demonstrated a powerful synergistic anti-cancer effect in vitro and in vivo.
BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE
(2021)