Article
Polymer Science
Hengwei Zhu, Suan P. Quah-Ivarson, Yugang Zhang, Andrei Fluerasu, Xiaoxi Yu, Bingqian Zheng, Xuechen Yin, Weiping Liu, Surita R. Bhatia
Summary: Passive microrheology techniques, such as dynamic light scattering (DLS) and X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS), have become important methods for characterizing the dynamics and viscoelastic properties of soft polymeric biomaterials. This study investigated a model thermoreversible polymeric hydrogel using DLS-microrheology with different size and concentrations of polystyrene probe particles, as well as XPCS-microrheology with inorganic nanoparticles. The results showed that probe particles slightly larger than the characteristic length scale of the gel structure aligned most closely with macroscopic rheology measurements. However, larger probe particles exhibited more dominated elastic behavior, while small inorganic nanoparticles resulted in a more viscous response compared to bulk rheology. This study demonstrates the utility of passive DLS and XPCS-based microrheology for characterizing the rheological properties of complex polymeric biomaterials and emphasizes the importance of experimental design and choice of probe particles.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Giulia Gaggero, Marina Delucchi, Gianfranco Di Tanna, Alberto Lagazzo, Silvia Vicini, Rodolfo Botter
Summary: Alginate, a seaweed derivative, is widely used as a thickener in the food and biomedical industries due to its good gelling ability. The study evaluated the influence of different types of alginate salts on the microstructural properties of water-based architectural coatings. Results showed that the counterions of alginate slightly impact the properties of formulations during storage, with greater influence from the 3ITT results predicting their application.
PROGRESS IN ORGANIC COATINGS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Anshul Shrivastava, Namrata Gundiah
Summary: The development of biocompatible hydrogels with high strength and toughness is a challenging task in tissue engineering and drug delivery applications. In this study, we crosslinked bovine gelatin with glutaraldehyde and methylglyoxal, and examined the changes in the material properties of the hydrogels. The results showed that MGO hydrogels had larger pores with plate-like walls, which helped retain water and exhibited higher moduli and fracture energies compared to control hydrogels.
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mingze Sun, Hegeng Li, Yong Hou, Nan Huang, Xingyu Xia, Hengjia Zhu, Qin Xu, Yuan Lin, Lizhi Xu
Summary: We describe multifunctional tendon-mimetic hydrogels composed of anisotropic assembly of aramid nano-fiber composites. These hydrogels mimic the structural interplay between collagen fibers and proteoglycans in tendons, and display high strength, modulus, and fracture toughness matching those of natural tendons. The surfaces of these hydrogels can be functionalized with bioactive molecules and integrated with soft bioelectronic components for sensing physiological parameters. The exceptional mechanics and functionality of these tendon mimetics suggest their potential applications in tissue engineering, prosthetics, human-machine interactions, and other technologies.
Article
Polymer Science
Yang Sun, Adiel F. Perez, Ivy L. Cardoza, Nina Baluyot-Reyes, Yong Ba
Summary: A self-assembled co-hydrogel system with sol-gel two-phase coexistence and mucoadhesive properties was developed, showing promising results in terms of maximum detachment stresses and physical dispersion stability under specific conditions.
Article
Polymer Science
Jose A. Carmona, Pablo Ramirez, Nuria Calero, Jose Munoz
Summary: This paper discusses the development of novel biocomposite hydrogels composed of welan gum and sepiolite. By varying the welan gum content, the rheological properties of the biocomposites can be controlled. Increasing the welan gum content results in the transition from shear-thinning behavior to conventional shear-thinning behavior, and leads to a more elastic and compact structure. The flowability provided by the biopolymer is enhanced by reinforcing the viscosity with sepiolite, thereby improving the overall consistency of the biocomposite.
Article
Biophysics
Sam R. Aspinall, Jane K. Parker, Vitaliy V. Khutoryanskiy
Summary: The study introduces new methodologies for observing and measuring toothpaste retention in the oral cavity, finding that using Carbopol ETD 2020 and Carbopol Ultrez 10 as binders can prolong the retention time. The in vitro methods and texture analysis accurately characterize toothpaste behavior and illustrate how it is retained in the oral cavity.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karolinekersin Enoch, Anbumozhi Angayarkanni Somasundaram
Summary: In this study, Carboxymethyl cellulose based hydrogels were prepared using a less expensive physical crosslinking approach. The mechanical strength of the hydrogels increased with an increase in the Carboxymethyl cellulose polymer concentration. The prepared hydrogels exhibited high thermal stability and retained their gel network structure even at 50 degrees C.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Maria Demeter, Ion Calina, Anca Scarisoreanu, Marin Micutz
Summary: This study presents complex hydrogel formulations based on collagen-PVP-PEO cross-linked by e-beam irradiation, and investigates the influence of different PEO concentrations on the hydrogel properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Sreemannarayana Mypati, Andrew Sellathurai, Marianna Kontopoulou, Aristides Docoslis, Dominik P. J. Barz
Summary: In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was utilized as a dispersing agent to prepare highly-concentrated aqueous graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) dispersions, which were then used for printing graphene films on a flexible substrate with high conductivity. The stability of such dispersions mainly depends on pH value and the ratio of GO and GNP concentrations, and different nematic phases were identified through rheological investigation.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
James A. Richards, Vincent A. Martinez, Jochen Arlt
Summary: By studying flowing highly-concentrated samples using differential dynamic microscopy (DDM), insights into the yielding behavior of complex fluids at both microscopic and bulk levels can be obtained. The transition from a solid-like to liquid-like state is shown to occur in two steps: droplet mobilisation indicating the limit of linear visco-elasticity, followed by shear localisation and macroscopic yielding. This suite of techniques can be applied to a wide variety of challenging complex fluids to gain similar insights.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Donghwan Ji, Jae Min Park, Myeong Seon Oh, Thanh Loc Nguyen, Hyunsu Shin, Jae Seong Kim, Dukjoon Kim, Ho Seok Park, Jaeyun Kim
Summary: In this study, the authors demonstrate the synthesis of superstrong, superstiff, and conductive alginate hydrogels with densely interconnecting networks. By using a simple reconstructing process, they achieve specific mechanical properties required for applications in artificial biological tissues, flexible electronics, and conductive membranes. The hydrogels show exceptional tensile strengths and elastic moduli, and they can also hold cations and exhibit high ionic conductivity.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Santanu Panja, Bart Dietrich, Dave J. Adams
Summary: Supramolecular hydrogels can control the 3D-rearrangement of self-assembled structures and achieve water expulsion and volume phase transition by altering the hydrophobicity of the fibers.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Romana Kratochvilova, Milan Kracalik, Marcela Smilkova, Petr Sedlacek, Miloslav Pekar, Elke Bradt, Jiri Smilek, Petra Zavodska, Martina Klucakova
Summary: This study aimed to analyze the hydrogels' use in soil by characterizing their FT-IR spectra, morphology, swelling ability, and rheological properties. It was found that lignohumate improved water absorbency, while the addition of NPK had a negative effect. The stability of the hydrogels was affected by repeated drying/re-swelling cycles and freezing.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Harikrishnan Pulikkalparambil, Jyotishkumar Parameswaranpillai, Jurgen Pionteck, Debabrata Nandi, Suchart Siengchin
Summary: This study reports on the self-healing capability of a plant-based bioepoxy resin by incorporating reversible ionic groups using a simple blending process with ionic liquid. The interaction between hydroxyl groups in the resin and the ionic groups in the liquid was found to be reversible, allowing for instantaneous self-healing of minor cracks. Tensile and nanoindentation tests revealed the retention of mechanical properties after self-healing, with the self-healed samples retaining approximately 42% and 53% of their tensile strength and elongation at break.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xueliang Xiu, Shichao Ma, Zhiyong Li, Zhipeng Li, Xuemei Li, Yangtao Ruan, Dezhao Li, Jianwei Wang, Fengsen Ma
Summary: Liposomes are promising delivery vehicles for drugs and vaccines. The use of microfluidic chips for liposome preparation is an effective method. However, traditional liposome preparation technologies hinder their industrial production and clinical application. This study presents a novel three-dimensional integrated microfluidic device for continuous liposome preparation and purification, which shows potential for industrial production of nano-pharmaceutical applications.
JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
