Skin-like dual-network gelatin/chitosan/emodin organohydrogel sensors mediated by Hofmeister effect and Schiff base reaction

Review of self-healing polysaccharide-based hydrogels in tissue regeneration: Characterization methods and applications

The design of hydrogels with self-healing properties represents a significant advancement in the biomedical field. Polysaccharide-based self-healing hydrogels have garnered attention because of their unique attributes, including biocompatibility and biodegradability, as well as their ability to autonomously repair damage. Polysaccharide-based self-healing hydrogels consist mainly of crosslinked hydrophilic polymer networks that mimic the self-repair mechanisms of biological tissues. This review examines the self-healing mechanisms of polysaccharide-based hydrogels, evaluates their healing ability, and discusses characterization techniques to quantify their healing efficiency. In addition, the review highlights the advantages of self-healing hydrogels and discusses potential applications, particularly in the areas, such as medical dressings, drug delivery, and tissue regeneration. By addressing the challenges of self-healing hydrogels, these materials represent a promising frontier in the field of advanced biomaterials.

Enhancing xanthan hydrogels for water shutoff treatment in sandstone oil reservoirs through core flooding and CCD approach

This study examines the efficacy of xanthan gum, as a natural polymer, in creating a suitable hydrogel for controlling water production in reservoirs. The study employed the Central Composite Design (CCD) method through bottle tests to evaluate the effect of different compounds on the gelation time and duration of syneresis. To explore the effectiveness of the xanthan-based hydrogels, swelling tests as well as dynamic core flooding tests are performed. Additionally, to enlighten the performance of the xanthan hydrogels, comprehensive set of characterization tests are performed. Nevertheless, the swelling test results indicated that increasing the polymer concentration led to an increase in swelling. SEM images of the dried hydrogel confirmed the structural integrity and uniformity of the networked architecture, demonstrating an increase in thickness and density. Furthermore, four hydrogel samples with the most appropriate specification in the bottle and swelling tests were chosen for core flooding tests. The results demonstrated that injecting the sample including; polymer@8000ppm, crosslinking agent ratio@0.15, and nanosilica@0.05 wt%, as an optimal sample, caused a 71.9% decrease in water production. Finally, the residual factor of 2.289, indicated the effective efficiency of xanthan-chromium hydrogel in the presence of nanosilica to reduce water permeability compared to oil in sandstone reservoir.

Anionic polyelectrolyte-regulated cellulose nanocrystal-based hydrogels for controllable drug release

The application of inorganic salt-regulated Hofmeister effects in cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)-based hydrogels is hindered by limitations, including poor biocompatibility and difficulties in achieving precise drug release. In this study, we show that the anionic polyelectrolyte regulated Hofmeister effect promotes the aggregation and crystallization of CNC and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) chains. This structural transformation significantly enhances the controllability of drug release in CNC-based hydrogels. The incorporation of anionic polyelectrolytes into CNC-based hydrogels creates a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN), significantly enhancing their mechanical properties and improving in vitro drug release controllability. Our hydrogel exhibits significant flexibility in controlling both drug release duration and capacity, with adjustable release times ranging from 16 to 52 h and tunable drug release capacities between 10.13 mg/g and 19.21 mg/g. Furthermore, antibacterial and cytotoxicity assays confirm its favorable biocompatibility and moderate antibacterial properties. Overall, our research findings emphasize that the preparation of cellulose-based hydrogels using polyelectrolytes has certain flexible regulatory functions in drug release.

Synthesis of PVA-Based Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications: Recent Trends and Advances

There is ongoing research for biomedical applications of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based hydrogels; however, the execution of this has not yet been achieved at an appropriate level for commercialization. Advanced perception is necessary for the design and synthesis of suitable materials, such as PVA-based hydrogel for biomedical applications. Among polymers, PVA-based hydrogel has drawn great interest in biomedical applications owing to their attractive potential with characteristics such as good biocompatibility, great mechanical strength, and apposite water content. By designing the suitable synthesis approach and investigating the hydrogel structure, PVA-based hydrogels can attain superb cytocompatibility, flexibility, and antimicrobial activities, signifying that it is a good candidate for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, drug delivery, wound dressing, contact lenses, and other fields. In this review, we highlight the current progresses on the synthesis of PVA-based hydrogels for biomedical applications explaining their diverse usage across a variety of areas. We explain numerous synthesis techniques and related phenomena for biomedical applications based on these materials. This review may stipulate a wide reference for future acumens of PVA-based hydrogel materials for their extensive applications in biomedical fields.