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Zhang M, Choi W, Kim M, Choi J, Zang X, Ren Y, Chen H, Tsukruk V, Peng J, Liu Y, Kim DH, Lin Z. Recent Advances in Environmentally Friendly Dual-crosslinking Polymer Networks. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202318035. [PMID: 38586975 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202318035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Environmentally friendly crosslinked polymer networks feature degradable covalent or non-covalent bonds, with many of them manifesting dynamic characteristics. These attributes enable convenient degradation, facile reprocessibility, and self-healing capabilities. However, the inherent instability of these crosslinking bonds often compromises the mechanical properties of polymer networks, limiting their practical applications. In this context, environmentally friendly dual-crosslinking polymer networks (denoted EF-DCPNs) have emerged as promising alternatives to address this challenge. These materials effectively balance the need for high mechanical properties with the ability to degrade, recycle, and/or self-heal. Despite their promising potential, investigations into EF-DCPNs remain in their nascent stages, and several gaps and limitations persist. This Review provides a comprehensive overview of the synthesis, properties, and applications of recent progress in EF-DCPNs. Firstly, synthetic routes to a rich variety of EF-DCPNs possessing two distinct types of dynamic bonds (i.e., imine, disulfide, ester, hydrogen bond, coordination bond, and other bonds) are introduced. Subsequently, complex structure- and dynamic nature-dependent mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of EF-DCPNs are discussed, followed by their exemplary applications in electronics and biotechnology. Finally, future research directions in this rapidly evolving field are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyue Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
| | - Woosung Choi
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Minju Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinyoung Choi
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Xuerui Zang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
| | - Yujing Ren
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
| | - Han Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
| | - Vladimir Tsukruk
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Juan Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Yijiang Liu
- College of Chemistry, Key Lab of Environment-Friendly Chemistry and Application in Ministry of Education, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, Hunan Province, 411105, China
| | - Dong Ha Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Zhiqun Lin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
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Ji D, Liu J, Zhao J, Li M, Rho Y, Shin H, Han TH, Bae J. Sustainable 3D printing by reversible salting-out effects with aqueous salt solutions. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3925. [PMID: 38724512 PMCID: PMC11082145 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48121-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Achieving a simple yet sustainable printing technique with minimal instruments and energy remains challenging. Here, a facile and sustainable 3D printing technique is developed by utilizing a reversible salting-out effect. The salting-out effect induced by aqueous salt solutions lowers the phase transition temperature of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) solutions to below 10 °C. It enables the spontaneous and instant formation of physical crosslinks within PNIPAM chains at room temperature, thus allowing the PNIPAM solution to solidify upon contact with a salt solution. The PNIPAM solutions are extrudable through needles and can immediately solidify by salt ions, preserving printed structures, without rheological modifiers, chemical crosslinkers, and additional post-processing steps/equipment. The reversible physical crosslinking and de-crosslinking of the polymer through the salting-out effect demonstrate the recyclability of the polymeric ink. This printing approach extends to various PNIPAM-based composite solutions incorporating functional materials or other polymers, which offers great potential for developing water-soluble disposable electronic circuits, carriers for delivering small materials, and smart actuators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghwan Ji
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Joseph Liu
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Jiayu Zhao
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Minghao Li
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Yumi Rho
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Chemical Engineering Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Hwansoo Shin
- Department of Organic and Nano Engineering and Human-Tech Convergence Program, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Hee Han
- Department of Organic and Nano Engineering and Human-Tech Convergence Program, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinhye Bae
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Chemical Engineering Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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Baur E, Tiberghien B, Amstad E. 3D Printing of Double Network Granular Elastomers with Locally Varying Mechanical Properties. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2313189. [PMID: 38530246 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202313189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Fast advances in the design of soft actuators and robots demand for new soft materials whose mechanical properties can be changed over short length scales. Elastomers can be formulated as highly stretchable or rather stiff materials and hence, are attractive for these applications. They are most frequently cast such that their composition cannot be changed over short length scales. A method that allows to locally change the composition of elastomers on hundreds of micrometer lengths scales is direct ink writing (DIW). Unfortunately, in the absence of rheomodifiers, most elastomer precursors cannot be printed through DIW. Here, 3D printable double network granular elastomers (DNGEs) whose ultimate tensile strain and stiffness can be varied over an unprecedented range are introduced. The 3D printability of these materials is leveraged to produce an elastomer finger containing rigid bones that are surrounded by a soft skin. Similarly, the rheological properties of the microparticle-based precursors are leveraged to cast elastomer slabs with locally varying stiffnesses that deform and twist in a predefined fashion. These DNGEs are foreseen to open up new avenues in the design of the next generation of smart wearables, strain sensors, prosthesis, soft actuators, and robots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Baur
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
- National Center of Competence in Research Bio-Inspired Materials, Fribourg, 1700, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Tiberghien
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Esther Amstad
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
- National Center of Competence in Research Bio-Inspired Materials, Fribourg, 1700, Switzerland
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Yang L, Wang Y, Zhang W, Liu X. One-Pot Preparation of Skin-Inspired Multifunctional Hybrid Hydrogel with Robust Wound Healing Capacity. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:5855-5870. [PMID: 37748138 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Bioinspired hydrogels have demonstrated multiple superiorities over traditional wound dressings for wound healing applications. However, the fabrication of bioinspired hydrogel-based wound dressings with desired functionalities always requires multiple successive steps, time-consuming processes, and/or sophisticated protocols, plaguing their clinical applications. Here, a facile one-pot strategy is developed to prepare a skin-inspired multifunctional hydrogel within 30 min by incorporating elastin (an essential functional component of the dermal extracellular matrix), tannic acid, and chitosan into the covalently cross-linked poly(acrylamide) network through noncovalent interactions. The resulting hydrogel exhibits a Young's modulus (ca. 36 kPa) comparable to that of human skin, a high elongation-at-break (ca. 1550%), a satisfactory tensile strength (ca. 61 kPa), and excellent elastic self-restorability, enabling the hydrogel to synchronously and conformally deform with human skin when used as wound dressings. Importantly, the hydrogel displays a self-adhesive property to skin tissues with an appropriate bonding strength (ca. 55 kPa measured on intact porcine skin), endowing the hydrogel with the ability to rapidly self-adhere to intact human skin, sealing the wound surface and also easily being removed without residue left or trauma caused to the skin. The hydrogel also possesses remarkable antibacterial activity, antioxidant capability, and hemocompatibility. All of these collective beneficial properties enable the hydrogel to significantly accelerate the wound healing process, outperforming the commercial wound dressings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangliang Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P.R. China
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, P.R. China
| | - Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P.R. China
- Center for Supramolecular Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P.R. China
| | - Xiaokong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P.R. China
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Muir VG, Weintraub S, Dhand AP, Fallahi H, Han L, Burdick JA. Influence of Microgel and Interstitial Matrix Compositions on Granular Hydrogel Composite Properties. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2206117. [PMID: 36717272 PMCID: PMC10074081 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202206117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Granular hydrogels are an emerging class of biomaterials formed by jamming hydrogel microparticles (i.e., microgels). These materials have many advantageous properties that can be tailored through microgel design and extent of packing. To enhance the range of properties, granular composites can be formed with a hydrogel interstitial matrix between the packed microgels, allowing for material flow and then stabilization after crosslinking. This approach allows for distinct compartments (i.e., microgels and interstitial space) with varied properties to engineer complex material behaviors. However, a thorough investigation of how the compositions and ratios of microgels and interstitial matrices influence material properties has not been performed. Herein, granular hydrogel composites are fabricated by combining fragmented hyaluronic acid (HA) microgels with interstitial matrices consisting of photocrosslinkable HA. Microgels of varying compressive moduli (10-70 kPa) are combined with interstitial matrices (0-30 vol.%) with compressive moduli varying from 2-120 kPa. Granular composite structure (confocal imaging), mechanics (local and bulk), flow behavior (rheology), and printability are thoroughly assessed. Lastly, variations in the interstitial matrix chemistry (covalent vs guest-host) and microgel degradability are investigated. Overall, this study describes the influence of granular composite composition on structure and mechanical properties of granular hydrogels towards informed designs for future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria G. Muir
- Department of BioengineeringSchool of Engineering and Applied SciencesUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPA19104USA
| | - Shoshana Weintraub
- Department of BioengineeringSchool of Engineering and Applied SciencesUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPA19104USA
| | - Abhishek P. Dhand
- Department of BioengineeringSchool of Engineering and Applied SciencesUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPA19104USA
| | - Hooman Fallahi
- School of Biomedical EngineeringScience and Health SystemsDrexel UniversityPhiladelphiaPA19104USA
| | - Lin Han
- School of Biomedical EngineeringScience and Health SystemsDrexel UniversityPhiladelphiaPA19104USA
| | - Jason A. Burdick
- Department of BioengineeringSchool of Engineering and Applied SciencesUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPA19104USA
- BioFrontiers InstituteUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderCO80303USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringCollege of Engineering and Applied ScienceUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderCO80303USA
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Pillay R, Hansraj R, Rampersad N. Spectacle lens and contact lens recycling in South Africa. AFRICAN VISION AND EYE HEALTH 2023. [DOI: 10.4102/aveh.v82i1.777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
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Jammed microgels fabricated via various methods for biological studies. KOREAN J CHEM ENG 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s11814-022-1310-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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Guo C, Cao Z, Peng Y, Wu R, Xu H, Yuan Z, Xiong H, Wang Y, Wu Y, Li W, Kong Q, Wang Y, Wu J. Subchondral bone-inspired hydrogel scaffold for cartilage regeneration. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2022; 218:112721. [PMID: 35905590 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Promoting the in situ regeneration of cartilage without additional cells or cytokines remains challenging. Here, inspired by the unique microstructures of subchondral bone, a cell and cytokine free hydrogel scaffold for cartilage regeneration was developed via a strategy of directional lyophilization and postcrosslinking. This strategy achieved intersecting microchannels in an orderly arrangement and an aligned ladder-like texture in a semi-interpenetrating hydrogel network. The resulting hydrogel had similar mechanical properties to the native cartilage extracellular matrix. Incorporating chitosan into the rigid network also endowed the hydrogel with excellent hemostatic properties. By delicately tuning the components and postcrosslinking conditions, the hydrogel was further endowed with suitable swelling and degradation properties for cartilage regeneration. In vitro tests showed that the highly biocompatible hydrogel scaffold could facilitate the migration and chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. In vivo results further verified that the hydrogel could promote the in situ regeneration of cartilage in a rat model of osteochondral defects. In summary, the subchondral bone-like hydrogel revealed promising prospects in cartilage regeneration and a variety of bioremediation applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Guo
- Orthopedic Research Institute, Department of Orthopedics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhenxing Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Yan Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Rui Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Hu Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Zhaoyang Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Hui Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Orthopedic Research Institute, Department of Orthopedics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Ye Wu
- Orthopedic Research Institute, Department of Orthopedics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Weilong Li
- Orthopedic Research Institute, Department of Orthopedics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qingquan Kong
- Orthopedic Research Institute, Department of Orthopedics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Yi Wang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610066, China.
| | - Jinrong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
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Soft gels assemble into hard plastic - and it's recyclable. Nature 2022. [PMID: 35241829 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-022-00590-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Charlet A, Bono F, Amstad E. Mechanical Reinforcement of Granular Hydrogels. Chem Sci 2022; 13:3082-3093. [PMID: 35414870 PMCID: PMC8926196 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc06231j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Granular hydrogels are composed of hydrogel-based microparticles, so-called microgels, that are densely packed to form an ink that can be 3D printed, injected or cast into macroscopic structures. They are frequently used as tissue engineering scaffolds because microgels can be made biocompatible and the porosity of the granular hydrogels enables a fast exchange of reagents, waste products, and if properly designed even the infiltration of cells. Most of these granular hydrogels can be shaped into appropriate macroscopic structures, yet, these structures are mechanically rather weak. The poor mechanical properties prevent the use of these structures as load-bearing materials and hence, limit their field of applications. The mechanical properties of granular hydrogels depend on the composition of microgels and the interparticle interactions. In this review, we discuss different strategies to assemble microparticles into granular hydrogels and highlight the influence of inter-particle connections on the stiffness and toughness of the resulting materials. Mechanically strong and tough granular hydrogels have the potential to open up new fields of their use and thereby to contribute to fast advances in these fields. In particular, we envisage them to be well-suited as soft actuators and robots, tissue replacements, and adaptive sensors. The mechanical properties of granular hydrogels are strongly influenced by interparticle interactions. In this review, we compare the storage, compressive and tensile moduli of granular hydrogels cured using various interparticle interactions.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Charlet
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, EPFL Lausanne Lausanne 1015 Switzerland
| | - Francesca Bono
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, EPFL Lausanne Lausanne 1015 Switzerland
| | - Esther Amstad
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, EPFL Lausanne Lausanne 1015 Switzerland
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