Model protein BSA adsorption onto novel magnetic chitosan/PVA/laponite RD hydrogel nanocomposite beads

Biodegradable Poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Double Network Hydrogels with Tunable Mechanics and High Self-healing Performance

We proposed a novel strategy in the fabrication of biodegradable poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (P(AAc-co-Am)/PVA) double network (DN) hydrogels with good mechanical and self-healing properties. In the DN hydrogel system, P(AAc-co-Am) polymers form a network through the ionic coordinates between -COO- and Fe3+ and hydrogen bonding between -COOH and -CONH2, while another network is fabricated by the complexation between PVA and borax. The influences of the composition on the rheological behaviors and mechanical properties of the synthesized DN hydrogels were investigated. The rheological measurements revealed that the viscoelasticity and stiffness of the P(AAc-co-Am)/PVA DN hydrogels increase as the acrylamide and Fe3+ concentrations increase. At 0.05 mmol of Fe3+ and 50% of acrylamide, tensile strength and elongation at break of P(AAc-co-Am)/PVA DN hydrogels could reach 329.5 KPa and 12.9 mm/mm, respectively. These properties arise from the dynamic reversible bonds existed in the P(AAc-co-Am)/PVA DN hydrogels. These reversible bonds also give good self-healing properties, and the maximum self-healing efficiency of P(AAc-co-Am)/PVA DN hydrogels is up to 96.4%. The degradation test of synthesized DN hydrogels was also conducted under simulated physiological conditions and the weight loss could reach 74% in the simulated intestinal fluid. According to the results presented here, the synthesized P(AAc-co-Am)/PVA DN hydrogels have a potential application prospect in various biomedical fields.

Review on recent progress in chitosan-based hydrogels for wastewater treatment application

Recently, chitosan has been used as a raw material for synthesis of hydrogels in a wide range of potential and practical applications like wastewater treatment, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. This review represents an overview of the application of chitosan-based hydrogels for wastewater treatment and helps researchers to better understand the potential of these adsorbents for wastewater treatment. It covers recently used and prospected methods for synthesis and modification of these hydrogels. Chitosan-based hydrogels are modified physically and chemically through crosslinking, grafting, impregnation, incorporating of hard fillers, blending, interpenetrating, and ion-imprinting methods to improve adsorption and mechanical properties. Understanding of these methods provides useful information in the design of efficient chitosan-based hydrogels and the select of appropriate pollutants for removal. This review provides a brief outlook on future prospects of chitosan-based hydrogels for wastewater application.

Chitosan-based hydrogels: From preparation to biomedical applications

The advances in the field of biomaterials have led to several studies on alternative biocompatible devices and to their development focusing on their properties, benefits, limitations, and utilization of alternative resources. Due to their advantages like biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low cost, polysaccharides have been widely used in the development of hydrogels. Among the polysaccharides studied on hydrogels preparation, chitosan (pure or combined with natural/synthetic polymers) have been widely investigated for use in biomedical field. In view of potential applications of chitosan-based hydrogels, this review focuses on the most recent progress made with respect to preparation, properties, and their salient accomplishments for drug delivery and tissue engineering.