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Mancino R, Caccavo D, Barba AA, Lamberti G, Biasin A, Cortesi A, Grassi G, Grassi M, Abrami M. Agarose Cryogels: Production Process Modeling and Structural Characterization. Gels 2023; 9:765. [PMID: 37754447 PMCID: PMC10530842 DOI: 10.3390/gels9090765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A cryogel is a cross-linked polymer network with different properties that are determined by its manufacturing technique. The formation of a cryogel occurs at low temperatures and results in a porous structure whose pore size is affected by thermal conditions. The adjustable pore sizes of cryogels make them attractive for diverse applications. In this study, the influence of the external operational temperature, which affects the cooling and freezing rates, on the production of cryogels with 2% w/w agarose is investigated. Moreover, a mathematical model is developed to simulate the cryogel production process and provide an initial estimate of the pore size within the structure. The predictions of the model, supported by qualitative light microscopy images, demonstrate that cryogels produced at higher process temperatures exhibit larger pore sizes. Moreover, the existence of pore size distribution within the gel structure is confirmed. Finally, stress relaxation tests, coupled with an image analysis, validates that cryogels produced at lower temperatures possess a higher stiffness and slower water release rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Mancino
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
- Eng4Life Srl, Via Circumvallazione 39, 83100 Avellino, AV, Italy
| | - Diego Caccavo
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
- Eng4Life Srl, Via Circumvallazione 39, 83100 Avellino, AV, Italy
- EST Srl, Academic Spin-Off, Via Circumvallazione 39, 83100 Avellino, AV, Italy
| | - Anna Angela Barba
- Eng4Life Srl, Via Circumvallazione 39, 83100 Avellino, AV, Italy
- EST Srl, Academic Spin-Off, Via Circumvallazione 39, 83100 Avellino, AV, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Gaetano Lamberti
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
- Eng4Life Srl, Via Circumvallazione 39, 83100 Avellino, AV, Italy
- EST Srl, Academic Spin-Off, Via Circumvallazione 39, 83100 Avellino, AV, Italy
| | - Alice Biasin
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 6, 34127 Trieste, TS, Italy
| | - Angelo Cortesi
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 6, 34127 Trieste, TS, Italy
| | - Gabriele Grassi
- Department of Life Sciences, Cattinara University Hospital, Trieste University, Strada di Fiume 447, 34149 Trieste, TS, Italy
| | - Mario Grassi
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 6, 34127 Trieste, TS, Italy
| | - Michela Abrami
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 6, 34127 Trieste, TS, Italy
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He Z, Zhou X, Wang Y, Lin J, Huang S, Hu R, Zhou Y, Qian Q, Deng H. Asymmetric barrier membranes based on polysaccharide micro-nanocomposite hydrogel: Synthesis, characterization, and their antibacterial and osteogenic activities. Carbohydr Polym 2021; 273:118525. [PMID: 34560941 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) strategies enable periodontal tissue regeneration, generally by providing barrier membranes. However, currently available membranes have limited osteoconductive and antibacterial potential. To address these challenges, we fabricated a new asymmetric barrier membrane. Agarose hydrogel functions as the main body of the barrier membrane. Hollow carbonated hydroxyapatite (CHA) prepared by hydrothermal method, was sedimented in agarose to exhibit an asymmetrical structure. And ε-poly-lysine (ε-PLL) was chosen as an antimicrobial agent to equip the membrane with long-lasting antibacterial activity. With the increased dose of CHA addition, the barrier membrane shows better biocompatibility, and higher mechanical properties. We demonstrated the osteoconductivity and antibacterial properties of the membrane in vitro and in vivo. In summary, our findings suggest that the barrier membrane has good osteoconductive and antibacterial properties, indicating its potential for periodontal tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqi He
- School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Xueyuan West Road, Lucheng District, Wenzhou 325027, China; Engineering Research Center of Clinical Functional Materials and Diagnosis & Treatment Devices of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinsan Road, Longwan District, Wenzhou 325001, China
| | - Xiaolin Zhou
- Engineering Research Center of Clinical Functional Materials and Diagnosis & Treatment Devices of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinsan Road, Longwan District, Wenzhou 325001, China
| | - Yi Wang
- School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Xueyuan West Road, Lucheng District, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Jian Lin
- School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Xueyuan West Road, Lucheng District, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Siyan Huang
- Engineering Research Center of Clinical Functional Materials and Diagnosis & Treatment Devices of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinsan Road, Longwan District, Wenzhou 325001, China
| | - Rongdang Hu
- School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Xueyuan West Road, Lucheng District, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Yunlong Zhou
- Engineering Research Center of Clinical Functional Materials and Diagnosis & Treatment Devices of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinsan Road, Longwan District, Wenzhou 325001, China
| | - Qiuping Qian
- Engineering Research Center of Clinical Functional Materials and Diagnosis & Treatment Devices of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinsan Road, Longwan District, Wenzhou 325001, China.
| | - Hui Deng
- School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Xueyuan West Road, Lucheng District, Wenzhou 325027, China; Engineering Research Center of Clinical Functional Materials and Diagnosis & Treatment Devices of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinsan Road, Longwan District, Wenzhou 325001, China.
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Elashnikov R, Ulbrich P, Vokatá B, Pavlíčková VS, Švorčík V, Lyutakov O, Rimpelová S. Physically Switchable Antimicrobial Surfaces and Coatings: General Concept and Recent Achievements. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:3083. [PMID: 34835852 PMCID: PMC8619822 DOI: 10.3390/nano11113083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial environmental colonization and subsequent biofilm formation on surfaces represents a significant and alarming problem in various fields, ranging from contamination of medical devices up to safe food packaging. Therefore, the development of surfaces resistant to bacterial colonization is a challenging and actively solved task. In this field, the current promising direction is the design and creation of nanostructured smart surfaces with on-demand activated amicrobial protection. Various surface activation methods have been described recently. In this review article, we focused on the "physical" activation of nanostructured surfaces. In the first part of the review, we briefly describe the basic principles and common approaches of external stimulus application and surface activation, including the temperature-, light-, electric- or magnetic-field-based surface triggering, as well as mechanically induced surface antimicrobial protection. In the latter part, the recent achievements in the field of smart antimicrobial surfaces with physical activation are discussed, with special attention on multiresponsive or multifunctional physically activated coatings. In particular, we mainly discussed the multistimuli surface triggering, which ensures a better degree of surface properties control, as well as simultaneous utilization of several strategies for surface protection, based on a principally different mechanism of antimicrobial action. We also mentioned several recent trends, including the development of the to-detect and to-kill hybrid approach, which ensures the surface activation in a right place at a right time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Elashnikov
- Department of Solid State Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 3, Prague 6, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic; (R.E.); (V.Š.)
| | - Pavel Ulbrich
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 3, Prague 6, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic; (P.U.); (B.V.); (V.S.P.)
| | - Barbora Vokatá
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 3, Prague 6, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic; (P.U.); (B.V.); (V.S.P.)
| | - Vladimíra Svobodová Pavlíčková
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 3, Prague 6, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic; (P.U.); (B.V.); (V.S.P.)
| | - Václav Švorčík
- Department of Solid State Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 3, Prague 6, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic; (R.E.); (V.Š.)
| | - Oleksiy Lyutakov
- Department of Solid State Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 3, Prague 6, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic; (R.E.); (V.Š.)
| | - Silvie Rimpelová
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 3, Prague 6, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic; (P.U.); (B.V.); (V.S.P.)
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Rochowski P, Pogorzelski SJ, Grzegorczyk M, Kulesza S. The strategies for the modelling of the passive mass transport through porous membranes: Applicability to transdermal delivery systems. Int J Pharm 2020; 591:120017. [PMID: 33122112 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.120017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The paper concerns the modelling of the passive solute transport through porous membranes. A general scheme for the mass transport has been developed upon the mixed diffusion-advection-reaction model. The passive advection has been introduced as a certain simplification of the Navier-Stokes problem, involving a pressure gradient-induced creeping flow of an incompressible Newtonian fluid. Nine scenarios for the drug transport process have been tested versus two experimental datasets acquired earlier (photoacoustic depth-profiling and contact angle surface wettability techniques) for the characterization of bulk and interfacial processes in a model pharmaceutical system: the synthetic dodecanol-collodion porous membrane in contact with a photodegradable pigment dithranol. The scenarios considered include three mass transport models (the diffusion-advection-reaction, diffusion-advection and diffusion-reaction models) under three distinct types of the lower (the donor/acceptor interface) boundary conditions: the Dirichlet-type instantaneous source, the Dirichlet-type interface relaxation, and the Neumann-type concentration gradient. The results obtained indicate a considerable agreement between the experimental data and predictions of the diffusion-reaction and the general models for long times, however, some deviations were exhibited at the initial stages of the permeation process. It is considered, that the discrepancies originate from a specific penetrant behaviour at the interfaces, which violates boundary transfer schemes classically employed for the mass transport phenomena quantification. Moreover, an additional mixing process taking place close to the interface related to the liquid flow driven by the surface tension gradients (so-called classic and thermal Marangoni effect) could play a still underestimated role in the trans-interfacial mass transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Rochowski
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 57, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - S J Pogorzelski
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 57, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | | | - S Kulesza
- Department of Mechatronics and Technical and IT Education, Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 11, 10-710 Olsztyn, Poland
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Hanson BS, Dougan L. Network Growth and Structural Characteristics of Globular Protein Hydrogels. Macromolecules 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c00890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin S. Hanson
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Lorna Dougan
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
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