1
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Rodriguez-Rivera GJ, Green M, Shah V, Leyendecker K, Cosgriff-Hernandez E. A user's guide to degradation testing of polyethylene glycol-based hydrogels: From in vitro to in vivo studies. J Biomed Mater Res A 2024; 112:1200-1212. [PMID: 37715481 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogels have gained significant attention in the field of biomedical applications due to their versatility and antifouling properties. Acrylate-derivatized PEG hydrogels (PEGDA) are some of the most widely studied hydrogels; however, there has been debate around the degradation mechanism and predicting resorption rates. Several factors influence the degradation rate of PEG hydrogels, including backbone and endgroup chemistry, macromer molecular weight, and polymer concentration. In addition to hydrogel parameters, it is necessary to understand the influence of biological and environmental conditions (e.g., pH and temperature) on hydrogel degradation. Rigorous methods for monitoring degradation in both in vitro and in vivo settings are also critical to hydrogel design and development. Herein, we provide guidance on tailoring PEG hydrogel chemistry to achieve target hydrolytic degradation kinetics for both resorbable and biostable applications. A detailed overview of accelerated testing methods and hydrogel degradation characterization is provided to aid researchers in experimental design and interpreting in vitro-in vivo correlations necessary for predicting hydrogel device performance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mykel Green
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Vani Shah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Kathleen Leyendecker
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
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2
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Lei C, Guan W, Zhao Y, Yu G. Chemistries and materials for atmospheric water harvesting. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:7328-7362. [PMID: 38896434 DOI: 10.1039/d4cs00423j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is recognized as a crucial strategy to address the global challenge of water scarcity by tapping into the vast reserves of atmospheric moisture for potable water supply. Within this domain, sorbents lie in the core of AWH technologies as they possess broad adaptability across a wide spectrum of humidity levels, underpinned by the cyclic sorption and desorption processes of sorbents, necessitating a multi-scale viewpoint regarding the rational material and chemical selection and design. This Invited Review delves into the essential sorption mechanisms observed across various classes of sorbent systems, emphasizing the water-sorbent interactions and the progression of water networks. A special focus is placed on the insights derived from isotherm profiles, which elucidate sorbent structures and sorption dynamics. From these foundational principles, we derive material and chemical design guidelines and identify key tuning factors from a structural-functional perspective across multiple material systems, addressing their fundamental chemistries and unique attributes. The review further navigates through system-level design considerations to optimize water production efficiency. This review aims to equip researchers in the field of AWH with a thorough understanding of the water-sorbent interactions, material design principles, and system-level considerations essential for advancing this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuxin Lei
- Materials Science and Engineering Program and Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Weixin Guan
- Materials Science and Engineering Program and Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Yaxuan Zhao
- Materials Science and Engineering Program and Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Guihua Yu
- Materials Science and Engineering Program and Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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3
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Shi Y, Liu J, Deng J, Cao L, Li L, Shao J, Li J, Xiong D. Tough Bonding of PVA Hydrogel-on-Textured Titanium Alloy with Varying Texture Densities in Swollen State. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:13773-13783. [PMID: 38920266 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c00120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Cartilage defects in large joints are a common occurrence in numerous degenerative diseases, especially in osteoarthritis. The hydrogel-on-metal composite has emerged as a potential candidate material, as hydrogels, to some extent, replicate the composition of human articular cartilage consisting of collagen fibers and proteoglycans. However, achieving tough bonding between the hydrogel and titanium alloy remains a significant challenge due to the swelling of the hydrogel in a liquid medium. This swelling results in reduced interfacial toughness between the hydrogel and titanium alloy, limiting its potential clinical applications. Herein, our approach aimed to achieve durable bonding between a hydrogel and a titanium alloy composite in a swollen state by modifying the surface texture of the titanium alloy. Various textures, including circular and triangular patterns, with dimple densities ranging from 10 to 40%, were created on the surface of the titanium alloy. Subsequently, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel was deposited onto the textured titanium alloy using a casting-drying method. Our findings revealed that PVA hydrogel on the textured titanium alloy with a 30% texture density exhibited the highest interfacial toughness in the swollen state, measuring at 1300 J m-2 after reaching equilibrium swelling in deionized water, which is a more than 2-fold increase compared to the hydrogel on a smooth substrate. Furthermore, we conducted an analysis of the morphologies of the detached hydrogel from the textured titanium alloy after various swelling durations. The results indicated that interfacial toughness could be enhanced through mechanical interlocking, facilitated by the expanded volume of the hydrogel protrusions as the swelling time increased. Collectively, our study demonstrates the feasibility of achieving tough bonding between a hydrogel and a metal substrate in a liquid environment. This research opens up promising avenues for designing soft/hard heterogeneous materials with strong adhesive properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Shi
- College of Materials and Metallurgy, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Jia Liu
- College of Materials and Metallurgy, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Jinhai Deng
- School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Lulu Cao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Long Li
- College of Materials and Metallurgy, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Jiaojing Shao
- College of Materials and Metallurgy, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Jianliang Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
| | - Dangsheng Xiong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
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4
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Franco A, Van Durme B, Van Vlierberghe S, Dupont-Gillain C. Misleading Pore Size Measurements in Gelatin and Alginate Hydrogels Revealed by Confocal Microscopy. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2024; 30:307-313. [PMID: 38946552 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2024.0117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
It is a well-documented phenomenon that the porous structure of hydrogels observed with vacuum-based imaging techniques is generated during the freezing and drying process employed prior to observation. Nevertheless, vacuum-based techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), are still being commonly used to measure pore sizes in hydrogels, which is often not representative of the actual pore size in hydrated conditions. The frequent underestimation of the impact of freezing and drying on hydrogel structures could stem from a lack of cross-fertilization between materials science and biomedical or food science communities, or from the simplicity and visually appealing nature of SEM imaging, which may lead to an overemphasis on its use. Our study provides a straightforward and impactful way of pinpointing this phenomenon exploiting two hydrogels ubiquitously applied in tissue engineering, including gelatin methacryloyl and alginate as proof-of-concept hydrogels. By comparing images of the samples in the native hydrated state, followed by freezing, freeze-drying, and rehydration using SEM and confocal microscopy, we highlight discrepancies between hydrogel pore sizes in the hydrated versus the dry state. To conclude, our study offers recommendations for researchers seeking insight in hydrogel properties and emphasizes key factors that require careful control when using SEM as a characterization tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Franco
- Bio and Soft Matter, Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bo Van Durme
- Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sandra Van Vlierberghe
- Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christine Dupont-Gillain
- Bio and Soft Matter, Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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5
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Burratti L, Sgreccia E, Bertelà F, Galiano F. Metal nanostructures in polymeric matrices for optical detection and removal of heavy metal ions, pesticides and dyes from water. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 362:142636. [PMID: 38885767 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Water pollutants such as heavy metal ions, pesticides, and dyes pose a worldwide issue. Their presence in water resources interferes with the normal growth mechanisms of living beings and causes long or short-term diseases. For this reason, research continuously tends to develop innovative, selective, and efficient processes or technologies to detect and remove pollutants from water. This review provides an up-to-date overview on metal nanoparticles loaded in polymeric matrices, such as hydrogels and membranes, and employed as optical sensors and as removing materials for water pollutants. The synthetic pathways of nanomaterials loading into polymeric matrices have been analyzed, particularly focusing on noble metal nanoparticles, noble metal nanoclusters, and metal oxide nanoparticles. Moreover, the sensing properties of modified matrices towards water pollutants have been discussed in addition to the interaction mechanisms between the sensors and the toxic compounds. The last part of the review has been devoted to illustrating the separation mechanism and removal performance of membranes loaded with nanomaterials in the treatment and purification of water streams from different contaminants (heavy metals, dyes and pesticides).
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Burratti
- Faculty of Science, Technology and Innovation of the University "Mercatorum", Piazza Mattei 10, 00186, Rome (RM), Italy
| | - Emanuela Sgreccia
- Industrial Engineering Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133, Rome (RM), Italy
| | - Federica Bertelà
- Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University of Rome, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146, Rome (RM), Italy
| | - Francesco Galiano
- Institute on Membrane Technology, ITM-CNR, Via P. Bucci, Cubo 17/C, 87036, Rende (CS), Italy.
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6
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Milani M, Phou T, Prevot G, Ramos L, Cipelletti L. Space-resolved dynamic light scattering within a millimeter-sized drop: From Brownian diffusion to the swelling of hydrogel beads. Phys Rev E 2024; 109:064613. [PMID: 39021030 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.109.064613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
We present a dynamic light scattering setup to probe, with time and space resolution, the microscopic dynamics of soft matter systems confined within millimeter-sized spherical drops. By using an ad hoc optical layout, we tackle the challenges raised by refraction effects due to the unconventional shape of the samples. We first validate the setup by investigating the dynamics of a suspension of Brownian particles. The dynamics measured at different positions in the drop, and hence different scattering angles, are found to be in excellent agreement with those obtained for the same sample in a conventional light scattering setup. We then demonstrate the setup capabilities by investigating a bead made of a polymer hydrogel undergoing swelling. The gel microscopic dynamics exhibit a space dependence that strongly varies with time elapsed since the beginning of swelling. Initially, the dynamics in the periphery of the bead are much faster than in the core, indicative of nonuniform swelling. As the swelling proceeds, the dynamics slow down and become more spatially homogeneous. By comparing the experimental results to numerical and analytical calculations for the dynamics of a homogeneous, purely elastic sphere undergoing swelling, we establish that the mean square displacement of the gel strands deviates from the affine motion inferred from the macroscopic deformation, evolving from fast diffusivelike dynamics at the onset of swelling to slower, yet supradiffusive, rearrangements at later stages.
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7
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Yu H, Yan Z, Dreiss CA, Gaitano GG, Jarvis JA, Gentleman E, da Silva RMP, Grigoriadis AE. Injectable PEG Hydrogels with Tissue-Like Viscoelasticity Formed through Reversible Alendronate-Calcium Phosphate Crosslinking for Cell-Material Interactions. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2400472. [PMID: 38809180 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202400472] [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: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic hydrogels provide controllable 3D environments, which can be used to study fundamental biological phenomena. The growing body of evidence that cell behavior depends upon hydrogel stress relaxation creates a high demand for hydrogels with tissue-like viscoelastic properties. Here, a unique platform of synthetic polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels in which star-shaped PEG molecules are conjugated with alendronate and/or RGD peptides, attaining modifiable degradability as well as flexible cell adhesion, is created. Novel reversible ionic interactions between alendronate and calcium phosphate nanoparticles, leading to versatile viscoelastic properties with varying initial elastic modulus and stress relaxation time, are identified. This new crosslinking mechanism provides shear-thinning properties resulting in differential cellular responses between cancer cells and stem cells. The novel hydrogel system is an improved design to the other ionic crosslink platforms and opens new avenues for the development of pathologically relevant cancer models, as well as minimally invasive approaches for cell delivery for potential regenerative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongqiang Yu
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ziqian Yan
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Cecile A Dreiss
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Gustavo G Gaitano
- Department of Chemistry, University of Navarra, Pamplona, 31080, Spain
| | - James A Jarvis
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics and NMR Facility, Centre for Biomolecular Spectroscopy, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Eileen Gentleman
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ricardo M P da Silva
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
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8
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Ebrahimi M, Arreguín-Campos M, Dookhith AZ, Aldana AA, Lynd NA, Sanoja GE, Baker MB, Pitet LM. Tailoring Network Topology in Mechanically Robust Hydrogels for 3D Printing and Injection. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024. [PMID: 38712527 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c03209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are confronted with a persistent challenge: the urgent demand for robust, load-bearing, and biocompatible scaffolds that can effectively endure substantial deformation. Given that inadequate mechanical performance is typically rooted in structural deficiencies─specifically, the absence of energy dissipation mechanisms and network uniformity─a crucial step toward solving this problem is generating synthetic approaches that enable exquisite control over network architecture. This work systematically explores structure-property relationships in poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogels constructed utilizing thiol-yne chemistry. We systematically vary polymer concentration, constituent molar mass, and cross-linking protocols to understand the impact of architecture on hydrogel mechanical properties. The network architecture was resolved within the molecular model of Rubinstein-Panyukov to obtain the densities of chemical cross-links and entanglements. We employed both nucleophilic and radical pathways, uncovering notable differences in mechanical response, which highlight a remarkable degree of versatility achievable by tuning readily accessible parameters. Our approach yielded hydrogels with good cell viability and remarkably robust tensile and compression profiles. Finally, the hydrogels are shown to be amenable to advanced processing techniques by demonstrating injection- and extrusion-based 3D printing. Tuning the mechanism and network regularity during the cell-compatible formation of hydrogels is an emerging strategy to control the properties and processability of hydrogel biomaterials by making simple and rational design choices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Ebrahimi
- Advanced Functional Polymers (AFP) Laboratory, Institute for Materials Research (imo-imomec), Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, Hasselt 3500, Belgium
- Department of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering and Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht 6229 ET, The Netherlands
| | - Mariana Arreguín-Campos
- Advanced Functional Polymers (AFP) Laboratory, Institute for Materials Research (imo-imomec), Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, Hasselt 3500, Belgium
- Department of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering and Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht 6229 ET, The Netherlands
| | - Aaliyah Z Dookhith
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Ana A Aldana
- Department of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering and Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht 6229 ET, The Netherlands
| | - Nathaniel A Lynd
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Gabriel E Sanoja
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Matthew B Baker
- Department of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering and Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht 6229 ET, The Netherlands
| | - Louis M Pitet
- Advanced Functional Polymers (AFP) Laboratory, Institute for Materials Research (imo-imomec), Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, Hasselt 3500, Belgium
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9
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Kowalczuk K, Dasgupta A, Páez Larios F, Ulrich HF, Wegner V, Brendel JC, Eggeling C, Mosig AS, Schacher FH. Self-Degrading Multifunctional PEG-Based Hydrogels-Tailormade Substrates for Cell Culture. Macromol Biosci 2024; 24:e2300383. [PMID: 38102978 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The use of PEG-based hydrogels as cell culture matrix to mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) has been realized using a range of well-defined, tunable, and dynamic scaffolds, although they require cell adhesion ligands such as RGDS-peptide (Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser) to promote cell adhesion. Herein the synthesis of ionic and degradable hydrogels is demonstrated for cell culture by crosslinking [PEG-SH]4 with the zwitterionic crosslinker N,N-bis(acryloxyethyl)-N-methyl-N-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium betaine (BMSAB) and the cationic crosslinker N,N-bis(acryloxyethyl)-N,N-dimethyl-1-ammonium iodide (BDMAI). Depending on the amount of ionic crosslinker used in gel formation, the hydrogels show tunable gelation time and stiffness. At the same time, the ionic groups act as catalysts for hydrolytic degradation, thereby allowing to define a stability window. The latter could be tailored in a straightforward manner by introducing the non-degradable crosslinker tri(ethylene glycol) divinyl ether. In addition, both ionic crosslinkers favor cell attachment in comparison to the pristine PEG hydrogels. The degradation is examined by swelling behavior, rheology, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy indicating degradation kinetics depending on diffusion of incorporated fluorescent molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Kowalczuk
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Lessingstraße 8, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Grüne Aue, D-07754, Jena, Germany
| | - Anindita Dasgupta
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Albert-Einstein-Straße 9, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Applied Optics and Biophysics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Francisco Páez Larios
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Albert-Einstein-Straße 9, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Applied Optics and Biophysics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Hans F Ulrich
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Lessingstraße 8, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Valentin Wegner
- Institute of Biochemistry II, Jena University Hospital, Am Nonnenplan 2-4, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Johannes C Brendel
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Lessingstraße 8, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Eggeling
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Grüne Aue, D-07754, Jena, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Albert-Einstein-Straße 9, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Applied Optics and Biophysics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Alexander S Mosig
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Grüne Aue, D-07754, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry II, Jena University Hospital, Am Nonnenplan 2-4, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Center for Sepsis Control and Care, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany
| | - Felix H Schacher
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Lessingstraße 8, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Grüne Aue, D-07754, Jena, Germany
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10
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Apostolides D, Michael G, Patrickios CS, Notredame B, Zhang Y, Gohy JF, Prévost S, Gradzielski M, Jung FA, Papadakis CM. Dynamic Covalent Amphiphilic Polymer Conetworks Based on End-Linked Pluronic F108: Preparation, Characterization, and Evaluation as Matrices for Gel Polymer Electrolytes. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16. [PMID: 38669089 PMCID: PMC11082838 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c19189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
We present the development of a platform of well-defined, dynamic covalent amphiphilic polymer conetworks (APCN) based on an α,ω-dibenzaldehyde end-functionalized linear amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(propylene glycol)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-b-PPG-b-PEG, Pluronic) copolymer end-linked with a triacylhydrazide oligo(ethylene glycol) triarmed star cross-linker. The developed APCNs were characterized in terms of their rheological (increase in the storage modulus by a factor of 2 with increase in temperature from 10 to 50 °C), self-healing, self-assembling, and mechanical properties and evaluated as a matrix for gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) in both the stretched and unstretched states. Our results show that water-loaded APCNs almost completely self-mend, self-organize at room temperature into a body-centered cubic structure with long-range order exhibiting an aggregation number of around 80, and display an exceptional room temperature stretchability of ∼2400%. Furthermore, ionic liquid-loaded APCNs could serve as gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs), displaying a substantial ion conductivity in the unstretched state, which was gradually reduced upon elongation up to a strain of 4, above which it gradually increased. Finally, it was found that recycled (dissolved and re-formed) ionic liquid-loaded APCNs could be reused as GPEs preserving 50-70% of their original ion conductivity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - George Michael
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Costas S. Patrickios
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Benoît Notredame
- Institute
for Condensed Matter and Nanosciences (IMCN), Bio- and Soft Matter
(BSMA), Université Catholique de
Louvain (UCL), Place Pasteur 1, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Yinghui Zhang
- Institute
for Condensed Matter and Nanosciences (IMCN), Bio- and Soft Matter
(BSMA), Université Catholique de
Louvain (UCL), Place Pasteur 1, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Jean-François Gohy
- Institute
for Condensed Matter and Nanosciences (IMCN), Bio- and Soft Matter
(BSMA), Université Catholique de
Louvain (UCL), Place Pasteur 1, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Sylvain Prévost
- Institut
Max von Laue—Paul Langevin (ILL), 71, Avenue des Martyrs—CS 20156, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Michael Gradzielski
- Stranski-Laboratorium
für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Institut für
Chemie, Technische Universität, Straße des 17, Juni 124, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Florian A. Jung
- Soft Matter
Physics Group, Physics Department, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Straße 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Christine M. Papadakis
- Soft Matter
Physics Group, Physics Department, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Straße 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
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11
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Smith AM, Inocencio DG, Pardi BM, Gopinath A, Andresen Eguiluz RC. Facile Determination of the Poisson's Ratio and Young's Modulus of Polyacrylamide Gels and Polydimethylsiloxane. ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS 2024; 6:2405-2416. [PMID: 38420286 PMCID: PMC10897882 DOI: 10.1021/acsapm.3c03154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Polyacrylamide hydrogels (PAH gel) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, an elastomer) are two soft materials often used in cell mechanics and mechanobiology, in manufacturing lab-on-a-chip applications, among others. This is partly due to the ability to tune their elasticity with ease in addition to various chemical modifications. For affine polymeric networks, two (of three) elastic constants, Young's modulus (E), the shear modulus (G), and Poisson's ratio (ν), describe the purely elastic response to external forces. However, the literature addressing the experimental determination of ν for PAH (sometimes called PAA gels in the literature) and the PDMS elastomer is surprisingly limited when compared to the literature that reports values of the elastic moduli, E and G. Here, we present a facile method to obtain the Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus for PAH gel and PDMS elastomer based on static tensile tests. The value of ν obtained from the deformation of the sample is compared to the value determined by comparing E and G via a second independent method that utilizes small amplitude shear rheology. We show that the Poisson's ratio may vary significantly from the value for incompressible materials (ν = 0.5), often assumed in the literature even for soft compressible hydrogels. Surprisingly, we find a high degree of agreement between elastic constants obtained by shear rheology and macroscopic static tension test data for polyacrylamide hydrogels but not for elastomeric PDMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariell Marie Smith
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95344, United States
| | - Dominique Gabriele Inocencio
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95344, United States
| | - Brandon Michael Pardi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95344, United States
| | - Arvind Gopinath
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95344, United States
- Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95344, United States
| | - Roberto Carlos Andresen Eguiluz
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95344, United States
- Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95344, United States
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12
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Rodríguez-López R, Wang Z, Oda H, Erdi M, Kofinas P, Fytas G, Scarcelli G. Network Viscoelasticity from Brillouin Spectroscopy. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:955-963. [PMID: 38156622 PMCID: PMC10865340 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Even though the physical nature of shear and longitudinal moduli are different, empirical correlations between them have been reported in several biological systems. This correlation is of fundamental interest and immense practical value in biomedicine due to the importance of the shear modulus and the possibility to map the longitudinal modulus at high-resolution with all-optical spectroscopy. We investigate the origin of such a correlation in hydrogels. We hypothesize that both moduli are influenced in the same direction by underlying physicochemical properties, which leads to the observed material-dependent correlation. Matching theoretical models with experimental data, we quantify the scenarios in which the correlation holds. For polymerized hydrogels, a correlation was found across different hydrogels through a common dependence on the effective polymer volume fraction. For hydrogels swollen to equilibrium, the correlation is valid only within a given hydrogel system, as the moduli are found to have different scalings on the swelling ratio. The observed correlation allows one to extract one modulus from another in relevant scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymundo Rodríguez-López
- Fischell
Department of Bioengineering, University
of Maryland, College
Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Zuyuan Wang
- School
of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 611731, China
| | - Haruka Oda
- School
of Information Science and Technology, The
University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656,Japan
| | - Metecan Erdi
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College
Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Peter Kofinas
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College
Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - George Fytas
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Institute
of Electronic Structure and Laser, FO.R.T.H, N. Plastira 10, Heraklion, 70013, Greece
| | - Giuliano Scarcelli
- Fischell
Department of Bioengineering, University
of Maryland, College
Park, Maryland 20742, United States
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13
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Jung S, Yun H, Kim J, Kim J, Yeo H, Choi IG, Kwak HW. Lignin/PVA hydrogel with enhanced structural stability for cationic dye removal. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 257:128810. [PMID: 38101680 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
In this study, a lignin-based hydrogel for wastewater treatment was prepared by incorporating kraft lignin (KL) into a poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix. The underwater structural stability of the KL-PVA hydrogel was guaranteed through physicochemical crosslinking, involving freeze-thaw process and chemical crosslinking reaction. The KL-PVA hydrogel displayed superior compressive characteristics compared to the original PVA hydrogel. This improvement was attributed to the chemical crosslinking and the reinforcing effect of the incorporated KL microparticles. The incorporation of anionic KL microparticles into the PVA three-dimensional network structure enhanced the cationic methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV) adsorption efficiency of the prepared KL-PVA hydrogel. The MB adsorption results were well explained by pseudo-2nd order kinetics model and Langmuir isotherm model. Electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking interactions were the main adsorption mechanisms between cationic dyes and KL surfaces, indicating the potential of KL-PVA hydrogel as an effective adsorption material. Moreover, regulating the molecular weight of PVA not only prevented lignin leakage from the KL-PVA hydrogel but also elevated the KL content within the hydrogel, consequently improving its dye removal performance. For KL-PVA hydrogel with high molecular weight PVA, the MB and CV adsorption capacities were 193.8 mg/g and 190.0 mg/g, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungoh Jung
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Heecheol Yun
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungkyu Kim
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jonghwa Kim
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwanmyeong Yeo
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Gyu Choi
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo Won Kwak
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
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14
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Chen X, Ouyang H, Zhang Y, Chen C, Nan S, Pu X, Gong T, Zhang ZR, Liu R, Fu Y. Antigen-specific T cell activation through targeted delivery of in-situ generated antigen and calcium ionophore to enhance antitumor immunotherapy. J Control Release 2024; 365:544-557. [PMID: 38052255 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in adoptive T-cell therapy have delivered impressive therapeutic outcomes by instigating enduring anti-tumor responses. Nonetheless, achieving specific T-cell activation remains a challenge due to several factors. Some cancer cells evade T-cell recognition due to the scarcity of tumor-specific T cells and deficiencies in antigen processing or major histocompatibility complex (MHC) presentation. Notably underestimated is the impact of waning T-cell receptor (TCR) expression and the constrained formation of immune synapses (IS) between dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells, impairing T-cell activation. Addressing these complexities, we introduce a pioneering approach featuring the deployment of a gel implant. This implant establishes an on-site antigen reservoir, efficiently targets DCs in lymph nodes, and facilitates calcium ion (Ca2+) delivery. Engineered with controlled swelling, poroelasticity, and resilience, the gel is suitable for surgical implantation. Its ample encapsulation capacity accommodates both photosensitizers and nanoparticles. Upon in situ photothermal irradiation, the gel generates tumor-specific antigens. Furthermore, cationic albumin nanoparticles (cNPs) co-loaded with monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) and ionomycin are released, guiding antigens to tumor-draining lymph nodes for DCs maturation. This meticulous process fosters the formation of IS thereby amplifying antigen-specific T-cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Chen
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Hongling Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yunxiao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Conglin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Simin Nan
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Ximing Pu
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Tao Gong
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhi-Rong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Renhe Liu
- Global Health Drug Discovery Institute, Beijing, China.
| | - Yao Fu
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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15
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Quan VM, Do DQ, Luong TD, Tang TN, Vu BT, Le HP, Vo PH, Dang NNT, Tran QN, Trinh NT, Nguyen TH. Oxidized Xanthan Gum Crosslinked NOCC: Hydrogel System and Their Biological Stability from Oxidation Levels of the Polymer. Macromol Biosci 2023; 23:e2300156. [PMID: 37579128 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic hydrogel systems from N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan (NOCC) are investigated in the past years, which has facilitated their widespread use in many biomedical engineering applications. However, the influence of the polymer's oxidation levels on the hydrogel biological properties is not fully investigated. In this study, chitosan is converted into NOCC and introduced to react spontaneously with oxidized xanthan gum (OXG) to form several injectable hydrogels with controlled degradability. Different oxidation levels of xanthan gum, as well as NOCC/OXG volume ratios, are trialed. The infrared spectroscopy spectra verify chemical modification on OXG and successful crosslinking. With increasing oxidation levels, more dialdehyde groups are introduced into the OXG, resulting in changes in physical properties including gelation, swelling, and self-healing efficiency. Under different volume ratios, the hydrogel shows a stable structure and rigidity with higher mechanical properties, and a slower degradation rate. The shear-thinning and self-healing properties of the hydrogels are confirmed. In vitro assays with L929 cells show the biocompatibility of all formulations although the use of a high amount of OXG15 and OXG25 limited the cell proliferation capacity. Findings in this study suggested a suitable amount of OXG at different oxidation levels in NOCC hydrogel systems for tissue engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vo Minh Quan
- School of Biomedical Engineering, International University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
| | - Dat-Quoc Do
- School of Biomedical Engineering, International University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
| | - Tin Dai Luong
- School of Biomedical Engineering, International University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
| | - Tuan-Ngan Tang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, International University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
| | - Binh Thanh Vu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, International University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
| | - Hien-Phuong Le
- School of Biomedical Engineering, International University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
| | - Phuc H Vo
- School of Biomedical Engineering, International University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
| | - Nhi Ngoc-Thao Dang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, International University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
| | - Quyen Ngoc Tran
- Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
- Graduate University of Science and Technology Viet Nam, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
| | - Nhu-Thuy Trinh
- School of Biomedical Engineering, International University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
| | - Thi-Hiep Nguyen
- School of Biomedical Engineering, International University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh, 70000, Vietnam
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16
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Choi C, Yun E, Cha C. Emerging Technology of Nanofiber-Composite Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications. Macromol Biosci 2023; 23:e2300222. [PMID: 37530431 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogels and nanofibers have been firmly established as go-to materials for various biomedical applications. They have been mostly utilized separately, rarely together, because of their distinctive attributes and shortcomings. However, the potential benefits of integrating nanofibers with hydrogels to synergistically combine their functionalities while attenuating their drawbacks are increasingly recognized. Compared to other nanocomposite materials, incorporating nanofibers into hydrogel has the distinct advantage of emulating the hierarchical structure of natural extracellular environment needed for cell and tissue culture. The most important technological aspect of developing "nanofiber-composite hydrogel" is generating nanofibers made of various polymers that are cross-linked and short enough to maintain stable dispersion in hydrated environment. In this review, recent research efforts to develop nanofiber-composite hydrogels are presented, with added emphasis on nanofiber processing techniques. Several notable examples of implementing nanofiber-composite hydrogels for biomedical applications are also introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cholong Choi
- Center for Programmable Matter, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunhye Yun
- Center for Programmable Matter, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Chaenyung Cha
- Center for Programmable Matter, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
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17
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Torres-Figueroa AV, de los Santos-Villalobos S, Rodríguez-Félix DE, Moreno-Salazar SF, Pérez-Martínez CJ, Chan-Chan LH, Ochoa-Meza A, del Castillo-Castro T. Physically and Chemically Cross-Linked Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Humic Acid Hydrogels for Agricultural Applications. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:44784-44795. [PMID: 38046300 PMCID: PMC10688162 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The preparation method of hydrogels has a significant effect on their structural and physicochemical properties. In this report, physically and chemically cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) networks containing humic acid (HA) were alternatively prepared by autoclaving (AC) and through glutaraldehyde (GA) addition, respectively, for agricultural purposes. PVA/HA hydrogels were comparatively characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, mechanical assays, scanning electron microscopy, swelling kinetics measurements, and water retention tests in soil. AC hydrogels showed a more homogeneous porous microstructure, higher swelling levels, and a better capacity to preserve the humidity of soil than those obtained by adding GA. Both PVA/HA hydrogels exhibited no phytotoxicity on cultivation trials of Sorghum sp., but the plant growth was promoted with the GA-cross-linked network as compared to the effect of the AC sample. The release behavior of urea was modified according to the preparation method of the PVA/HA hydrogels. After 3 days of sustained urea release, 91% of the fertilizer was delivered from the AC hydrogel, whereas a lower amount of 56% was released for the GA-cross-linked hydrogel. Beyond the advantages of applying PVA/HA hydrogels in the agricultural field, an appropriate method of preparing these materials endows them with specific properties according to the requirements of the target crop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana V. Torres-Figueroa
- Departamento
de Investigación en Polímeros y Materiales, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo 83000, Mexico
| | - Sergio de los Santos-Villalobos
- Laboratorio
de Biotecnología del Recurso Microbiano, Departamento de Ciencias
Agronómicas y Veterinarias, Instituto
Tecnológico de Sonora, 5 de Febrero 818 Sur, Colonia Centro, Obregón 85000, Mexico
| | - Dora E. Rodríguez-Félix
- Departamento
de Investigación en Polímeros y Materiales, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo 83000, Mexico
| | - Sergio F. Moreno-Salazar
- Departamento
de Agricultura y Ganadería, Universidad
de Sonora, Carr. Bahía de Kino, Km. 21. Apartado Postal 305, Hermosillo, Sonora 83000, Mexico
| | | | - Lerma H. Chan-Chan
- Departamento
de Física, CONAHCyT, Universidad
de Sonora, Hermosillo 83000, Mexico
| | - Andrés Ochoa-Meza
- Departamento
de Agricultura y Ganadería, Universidad
de Sonora, Carr. Bahía de Kino, Km. 21. Apartado Postal 305, Hermosillo, Sonora 83000, Mexico
| | - Teresa del Castillo-Castro
- Departamento
de Investigación en Polímeros y Materiales, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo 83000, Mexico
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18
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Lee H, Jung Y, Lee N, Lee I, Lee JH. Nature-Derived Polysaccharide-Based Composite Hydrogels for Promoting Wound Healing. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16714. [PMID: 38069035 PMCID: PMC10706343 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous innovative advancements in dressing technology for wound healing have emerged. Among the various types of wound dressings available, hydrogel dressings, structured with a three-dimensional network and composed of predominantly hydrophilic components, are widely used for wound care due to their remarkable capacity to absorb abundant wound exudate, maintain a moisture environment, provide soothing and cooling effects, and mimic the extracellular matrix. Composite hydrogel dressings, one of the evolved dressings, address the limitations of traditional hydrogel dressings by incorporating additional components, including particles, fibers, fabrics, or foams, within the hydrogels, effectively promoting wound treatment and healing. The added elements enhance the features or add specific functionalities of the dressings, such as sensitivity to external factors, adhesiveness, mechanical strength, control over the release of therapeutic agents, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and tissue regeneration behavior. They can be categorized as natural or synthetic based on the origin of the main components of the hydrogel network. This review focuses on recent research on developing natural polysaccharide-based composite hydrogel wound dressings. It explores their preparation and composition, the reinforcement materials integrated into hydrogels, and therapeutic agents. Furthermore, it discusses their features and the specific types of wounds where applied.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jin Hyun Lee
- School of Bio-Convergence Science, College of Biomedical & Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Republic of Korea
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19
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Wang L, Li W, Li M, Lai P, Yang C, Wang H, Ma B, Huang R, Zu Y. Bio-Inspired Fractal Robust Hydrogel Catheter for Intra-Abdominal Sepsis Management. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2303090. [PMID: 37822166 PMCID: PMC10646267 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
To deal with intra-abdominal sepsis, one of the major global causes of death in hospitalized patients, efficient abscess drainage is crucial. Despite decades of advances, traditional catheters have demonstrated poor drainage and absorption properties due to their simple tubular structures and their dense nonporous surface. Herein, inspired by porous sponges and fractal roots, a multifaceted hydrogel catheter with effective drainage, absorptive, and robust properties, is presented. Its unique fractal structures provide extensive internal branching and a high specific surface area for effective drainage, while the hierarchical porous structures provide a wide range of absorption capabilities. Additionally, its distinctive multi-interpenetration network maintains robust and appropriate mechanical properties, even after absorption multiple times of liquid and mechanical disturbance, allowing for intact removal from the abdominal cavity without harm to the animal in vivo. Besides, the loaded antimicrobial peptides are capable of being released in situ to inhibit the potential for infections. In vivo experiments have demonstrated that this hydrogel catheter efficiently removes lethal abscesses and improves survival. It is believed that this innovative and practical catheter will create a future precedent for hydrogel drainage devices for more effective management of intra-abdominal sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lichun Wang
- Department of Critical Care MedicineThe Sixth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510655China
| | - Wenzhao Li
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision, and Brain Health)Wenzhou InstituteUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesWenzhouZhejiang325001China
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHong Kong SAR999077China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgerySouthern Medical UniversityAffiliated Dongguan Shilong Peoples HospitalSSL Center Hospital Dongguan CityDongguan523326China
| | - Puxiang Lai
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHong Kong SAR999077China
| | - Chunhua Yang
- Department of Critical Care MedicineThe Sixth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510655China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery) and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor DiseasesGuangdong Institute of GastroenterologyBiomedical Innovation CenterThe Sixth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510655China
| | - Bo Ma
- Department of UrologyThe Sixth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510655China
| | - Rongkang Huang
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery) and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor DiseasesGuangdong Institute of GastroenterologyBiomedical Innovation CenterThe Sixth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510655China
| | - Yan Zu
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision, and Brain Health)Wenzhou InstituteUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesWenzhouZhejiang325001China
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20
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Mohindra P, Zhong JX, Fang Q, Cuylear DL, Huynh C, Qiu H, Gao D, Kharbikar BN, Huang X, Springer ML, Lee RJ, Desai TA. Local decorin delivery via hyaluronic acid microrods improves cardiac performance, ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction. NPJ Regen Med 2023; 8:60. [PMID: 37872196 PMCID: PMC10593781 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-023-00336-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) remains a global public health burden and often results following myocardial infarction (MI). Following injury, cardiac fibrosis forms in the myocardium which greatly hinders cellular function, survival, and recruitment, thus severely limits tissue regeneration. Here, we leverage biophysical microstructural cues made of hyaluronic acid (HA) loaded with the anti-fibrotic proteoglycan decorin to more robustly attenuate cardiac fibrosis after acute myocardial injury. Microrods showed decorin incorporation throughout the entirety of the hydrogel structures and exhibited first-order release kinetics in vitro. Intramyocardial injections of saline (n = 5), microrods (n = 7), decorin microrods (n = 10), and free decorin (n = 4) were performed in male rat models of ischemia-reperfusion MI to evaluate therapeutic effects on cardiac remodeling and function. Echocardiographic analysis demonstrated that rats treated with decorin microrods (5.21% ± 4.29%) exhibited significantly increased change in ejection fraction (EF) at 8 weeks post-MI compared to rats treated with saline (-4.18% ± 2.78%, p < 0.001) and free decorin (-3.42% ± 1.86%, p < 0.01). Trends in reduced end diastolic volume were also identified in decorin microrod-treated groups compared to those treated with saline, microrods, and free decorin, indicating favorable ventricular remodeling. Quantitative analysis of histology and immunofluorescence staining showed that treatment with decorin microrods reduced cardiac fibrosis (p < 0.05) and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy (p < 0.05) at 8 weeks post-MI compared to saline control. Together, this work aims to contribute important knowledge to guide rationally designed biomaterial development that may be used to successfully treat cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Mohindra
- UC Berkeley-UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Justin X Zhong
- UC Berkeley-UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Qizhi Fang
- Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Darnell L Cuylear
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Graduate Program in Graduate Program in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Cindy Huynh
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Huiliang Qiu
- Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Dongwei Gao
- Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bhushan N Kharbikar
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xiao Huang
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Matthew L Springer
- Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Randall J Lee
- UC Berkeley-UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Tejal A Desai
- UC Berkeley-UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
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21
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Guo Q, Yang W, Liu H, Wang W, Ge Z, Yuan Z. An aquatic biomimetic butterfly soft robot driven by deformable photo-responsive hydrogel. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:7370-7378. [PMID: 37740388 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01027a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Taking inspiration from the locomotor behaviors of a butterfly, we have developed an underwater soft robot that imitates its movements. This biomimetic robot is constructed using a deformable photo-responsive material that exhibits high biological compatibility and impressive deformation capabilities in response to external stimuli. First, we investigate composite materials consisting of poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Then, using photocuring printing technology, we successfully fabricate a biomimetic butterfly soft robot utilizing these composite materials. The robot is driven by visible light, enabling it to achieve periodic wing movement and fly upward at an average speed of 3.63 mm s-1. In addition, the robot achieves additional functionalities such as flying over obstacles and carrying small objects during the ascending flight. These outcomes have a significant impact on the advancement of flexible biomimetic robots and offer valuable insights for the research of biomimetic robots driven by visible light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghao Guo
- School of Electromechanical and Automotive Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China.
| | - Wenguang Yang
- School of Electromechanical and Automotive Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China.
| | - Huibin Liu
- School of Electromechanical and Automotive Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China.
| | - Wenhao Wang
- School of Electromechanical and Automotive Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China.
| | - Zhixing Ge
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of, Singapore, 119077, Singapore
| | - Zheng Yuan
- School of Electromechanical and Automotive Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China.
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22
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Pruksawan S, Lin Z, Lee YL, Chee HL, Wang F. 4D-Printed Hydrogel Actuators through Diffusion-Path Architecture Design. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:46388-46399. [PMID: 37738306 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c10112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Recently, smart hydrogels have garnered considerable attention as biomedical devices, and several approaches have been introduced for their fabrication, including the incorporation of stimulus-responsive additives, utilization of molecular imprinting techniques, and application of multilayered hydrogels. However, the nonuniform properties resulting from these approaches limit the practical applications of hydrogels by causing inconsistent performance and behavior. In this study, we propose a novel approach to manipulating the swelling kinetics of hydrogels by engineering their diffusion-path architecture. By simply adjusting the diffusion path length within the hydrogel, we achieved a significant change in swelling kinetics. This approach enables precise control over the diffusion and transport processes within the hydrogel, resulting in enhanced swelling kinetics when reducing the diffusion path length. Furthermore, by strategically designing the diffusion-path architecture of a 3D-printed hydrogel specimen, we can fabricate smart hydrogel actuators that exhibit reversible shape transformations during swelling and deswelling through a nonequilibrium differential swelling. The proposed approach eliminates the need to modify the spatial properties of hydrogel structures such as cross-linking density, polymer, or additive compositions, thereby achieving uniform properties throughout the hydrogel and creating new possibilities for the development of advanced 4D-printed biomedical devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirawit Pruksawan
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - Zehuang Lin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS), 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117575, Republic of Singapore
| | - Yock Leng Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS), 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117583, Republic of Singapore
| | - Heng Li Chee
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - FuKe Wang
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
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23
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Rodriguez-Fernandez J, Garcia-Legler E, Villanueva-Badenas E, Donato MT, Gomez-Ribelles JL, Salmeron-Sanchez M, Gallego-Ferrer G, Tolosa L. Primary human hepatocytes-laden scaffolds for the treatment of acute liver failure. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2023; 153:213576. [PMID: 37566937 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based liver therapies based on retrieving and steadying failed metabolic function(s) for acute and chronic diseases could be a valuable substitute for liver transplants, even though they are limited by the low engraftment capability and reduced functional quality of primary human hepatocytes (PHH). In this paper we propose the use of gelatin-hyaluronic acid (Gel-HA) scaffolds seeded with PHH for the treatment of liver failure. We first optimized the composition using Gel-HA hydrogels, looking for the mechanical properties closer to the human liver and determining HepG2 cells functionality. Gel-HA scaffolds with interconnected porosity (pore size 102 μm) were prepared and used for PHH culture and evaluation of key hepatic functions. PHH cultured in Gel-HA scaffolds exhibited increased albumin and urea secretion and metabolic capacity (CYP and UGT activity levels) compared to standard monolayer cultures. The transplant of the scaffold containing PHH led to an improvement in liver function (transaminase levels, necrosis) and ameliorated damage in a mouse model of acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver failure. The study provided a mechanistic understanding of APAP-induced liver injury and the impact of transplantation by analyzing cytokine production and oxidative stress induction to find suitable biomarkers of cell therapy effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio Rodriguez-Fernandez
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (CBIT), Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia 46022, Spain
| | - Emma Garcia-Legler
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (CBIT), Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia 46022, Spain
| | - Estela Villanueva-Badenas
- Experimental Hepatology Unit, Health Research Institute La Fe (IISLAFE), Valencia 46026, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia 46010, Spain
| | - M Teresa Donato
- Experimental Hepatology Unit, Health Research Institute La Fe (IISLAFE), Valencia 46026, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia 46010, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Luis Gomez-Ribelles
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (CBIT), Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia 46022, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Valencia, Spain
| | - Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (CBIT), Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia 46022, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Valencia, Spain; Centre for the Cellular Microenvironment, Division of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, G12 8LT Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Gloria Gallego-Ferrer
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (CBIT), Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia 46022, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Valencia, Spain.
| | - Laia Tolosa
- Experimental Hepatology Unit, Health Research Institute La Fe (IISLAFE), Valencia 46026, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Valencia, Spain.
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24
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Richbourg NR, Peppas NA. Structurally decoupled stiffness and solute transport in multi-arm poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels. Biomaterials 2023; 301:122272. [PMID: 37573839 PMCID: PMC10785603 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic hydrogels are widely used as artificial 3D environments for cell culture, facilitating the controlled study of cell-environment interactions. However, most hydrogels are limited in their ability to represent the physical properties of biological tissues because stiffness and solute transport properties in hydrogels are closely correlated. Resultingly, experimental investigations of cell-environment interactions in hydrogels are confounded by simultaneous changes in multiple physical properties. Here, we overcame this limitation by simultaneously manipulating four structural parameters to synthesize a library of multi-arm poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel formulations with robustly decoupled stiffness and solute transport. This structural design approach avoids chemical alterations or additions to the network that might have unanticipated effects on encapsulated cells. An algorithm created to statistically evaluate stiffness-transport decoupling within the dataset identified 46 of the 73 synthesized formulations as robustly decoupled. We show that the swollen polymer network model accurately predicts 11 out of 12 structure-property relationships, suggesting that this approach to decoupling stiffness and solute transport in hydrogels is fundamentally validated and potentially broadly applicable. Furthermore, the unprecedented control of hydrogel network structure provided by multi-arm PEG hydrogels confirmed several fundamental modeling assumptions. This study enables nuanced hydrogel design for uncompromised investigation of cell-environment interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan R Richbourg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
| | - Nicholas A Peppas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA; McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA; Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA; Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics, Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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25
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Jung SA, Malyaran H, Demco DE, Manukanc A, Häser LS, Kučikas V, van Zandvoort M, Neuss S, Pich A. Fibrin-Dextran Hydrogels with Tunable Porosity and Mechanical Properties. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:3972-3984. [PMID: 37574715 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogels as scaffolds in tissue engineering have gained increasing attention in recent years. Natural hydrogels, e.g., collagen or fibrin, are limited by their weak mechanical properties and fast degradation, whereas synthetic hydrogels face issues with biocompatibility and biodegradation. Therefore, combining natural and synthetic polymers to design hydrogels with tunable mechanical stability and cell affinity for biomedical applications is of interest. By using fibrin with its excellent cell compatibility and dextran with controllable mechanical properties, a novel bio-based hydrogel can be formed. Here, we synthesized fibrin and dextran-methacrylate (MA)-based hydrogels with tailorable mechanical properties, controllable degradation, variable pore sizes, and ability to support cell proliferation. The hydrogels are formed through in situ gelation of fibrinogen and dextran-MA with thrombin and dithiothreitol. Swelling and nuclear magnetic resonance diffusometry measurements showed that the water uptake and mesh sizes of fabricated hydrogels decrease with increasing dextran-MA concentrations. Cell viability tests confirm that these hydrogels exhibit no cytotoxic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Anna Jung
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, Aachen 52074, Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | - Hanna Malyaran
- Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, BioInterface Group, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 20, Aachen 52074, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | - Dan Eugen Demco
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | - Anna Manukanc
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, Aachen 52074, Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | - Leonie Sophie Häser
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, Aachen 52074, Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | - Vytautas Kučikas
- Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research (IMCAR), RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | - Marc van Zandvoort
- Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research (IMCAR), RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen 52074, Germany
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, GROW, CARIM, MHeNS, Maastricht University, Maastricht 6200 MD, The Netherlands
| | - Sabine Neuss
- Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, BioInterface Group, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 20, Aachen 52074, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | - Andrij Pich
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, Aachen 52074, Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, Aachen 52074, Germany
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26
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Foreman K, Tran-Ba KH. Single-Particle Tracking in Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Diacrylate: Probe Size Effect on the Diffusion Behaviors of Nanoparticles in Unentangled Polymer Solutions. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:7091-7102. [PMID: 37527454 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c03499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
A thorough understanding of the relevant factors governing the transport of nanoparticles in poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) is crucial for many applications utilizing this polymer. Here, single-particle tracking (SPT) was used to systematically investigate the role of the probe size (3-200 nm) on the diffusion behaviors of individual fluorescent nanoparticles in semidilute and unentangled PEGDA solutions. The quantitative assessment of the SPT data via the recorded single-particle trajectories and diffusion coefficients (D) not only showed that the observed probe dynamics in PEGDA were temporally and spatially heterogeneous, but more importantly that the measured D were observed to be significantly reduced (vs in solvent) and strongly size-dependent. We explained these results based on a modified multiscale model for particle diffusion, built upon well-established hydrodynamics and obstruction theories. We furthermore showed that the presence of steric interactions and probe confinement effects in highly crowded, unentangled PEGDA microstructures can lead to deviations in the single-particle displacements from the expected Gaussian behavior, as revealed by the van Hove displacement distributions and the associated non-Gaussian parameters. This study has demonstrated the power of SPT methods in offering an advanced characterization of the transport characteristics in complex polymer structures, overcoming challenges posed by traditional characterization techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Foreman
- Department of Chemistry, Towson University, Towson, Maryland 21252, United States
| | - Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba
- Department of Chemistry, Towson University, Towson, Maryland 21252, United States
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27
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Tawagi E, Ung T, Cheng HLM, Santerre JP. Arrhenius-model-based degradable oligourethane hydrogels for controlled growth factor release. Acta Biomater 2023; 166:167-186. [PMID: 37207744 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradable hydrogels are growing in demand to enable the delivery of biomolecules (e.g. growth factors) for regenerative medicine. This research investigated the resorption of an oligourethane/polyacrylic acid hydrogel, a biodegradable hydrogel which supports tissue regeneration. The Arrhenius model was used to characterize the resorption of the polymeric gels in relevant in vitro conditions, and the Flory-Rehner equation was used to correlate the volumetric swelling ratio with the extent of degradation. The study found that the swelling rate of the hydrogel follows the Arrhenius model at elevated temperatures, estimating degradation time in saline solution at 37°C to be between 5 and 13 months, serving as a preliminary approximation of degradation in vivo. The degradation products had low cytotoxicity towards endothelial cells, and the hydrogel supported stromal cell proliferation. Additionally, the hydrogels were able to release growth factors and maintain the biomolecules' bioactivity towards cell proliferation. The study of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release from the hydrogel used a diffusion process model, showing that the electrostatic attraction between VEGF and the anionic hydrogel allowed for controlled and sustained VEGF release over three weeks. In a rat subcutaneous implant model, a selected hydrogel with desired degradation rates exhibited minimal foreign body response and supported M2a macrophage phenotype, and vascularization. The low M1 and high M2a macrophage phenotypes within the implants were associated with tissue integration. This research supports the use of oligourethane/polyacrylic acid hydrogels as a promising material for delivering growth factors and supporting tissue regeneration. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: There is a need for degradable elastomeric hydrogels that can support the formation of soft tissues and minimize long-term foreign body responses. An Arrhenius model was used to estimate the relative breakdown of hydrogels, in-vitro. The results demonstrate that hydrogels made from a combination of poly(acrylic acid) and oligo-urethane diacrylates can be designed to resorb over defined periods ranging from months to years depending on the chemical formulation prescribed by the model. The hydrogel formulations also provided for different release profiles of growth factors, relevant to tissue regeneration. In-vivo, these hydrogels had minimal inflammatory effects and showed evidence of integration into the surrounding tissue. The hydrogel approach can help the field design a broader range of biomaterials for tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Tawagi
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, 14th Floor, Room 1435, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada; Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Trevor Ung
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, 14th Floor, Room 1435, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada; Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON, Canada; The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - J Paul Santerre
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, 14th Floor, Room 1435, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada; Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON, Canada; Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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28
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Pan J, Liao H, Gong G, He Y, Wang Q, Qin L, Zhang Y, Ejima H, Tardy BL, Richardson JJ, Shang J, Rojas OJ, Zeng Y, Guo J. Supramolecular nanoarchitectonics of phenolic-based nanofiller for controlled diffusion of versatile drugs in hydrogels. J Control Release 2023; 360:433-446. [PMID: 37422124 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Drug-dependent design of hydrogels is currently required for engineering the controlled release of therapeutics, which is a major contributor to the technical challenges relating to the clinical translation of hydrogel-drug systems. Herein, by integrating supramolecular phenolic-based nanofillers (SPFs) into hydrogel microstructures we developed a facile strategy to endow a range of clinically relevant hydrogels with controlled release properties for diverse therapeutic agents. The assembly of multiscale SPF aggregates leads to tunable mesh size and multiple dynamic interactions between SPF aggregates and drugs, which relaxes the available choices of drugs and hydrogels. This simple approach allowed for the controlled release of 12 representative drugs evaluated with 8 commonly used hydrogels. Moreover, the anesthetic drug lidocaine was loaded into SPF-integrated alginate hydrogel and demonstrated sustained release for 14 days in vivo, validating the potential for long-term anesthesia in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiezhou Pan
- BMI Center for Biomass Materials and Nanointerfaces, College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China
| | - Haotian Liao
- BMI Center for Biomass Materials and Nanointerfaces, College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China; Division of Liver Surgery, Department of General Surgery and Laboratory of Liver Surgery, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Guidong Gong
- BMI Center for Biomass Materials and Nanointerfaces, College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China
| | - Yunxiang He
- BMI Center for Biomass Materials and Nanointerfaces, College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China
| | - Qin Wang
- BMI Center for Biomass Materials and Nanointerfaces, College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China; School of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China
| | - Lang Qin
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, The Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yaoyao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, The Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Hirotaka Ejima
- Department of Materials Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Blaise L Tardy
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
| | - Joseph J Richardson
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Jiaojiao Shang
- BMI Center for Biomass Materials and Nanointerfaces, College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China.
| | - Orlando J Rojas
- Bioproducts Institute, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Yong Zeng
- Division of Liver Surgery, Department of General Surgery and Laboratory of Liver Surgery, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
| | - Junling Guo
- BMI Center for Biomass Materials and Nanointerfaces, College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China; Bioproducts Institute, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China.
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29
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Morozova SM, Gevorkian A, Kumacheva E. Design, characterization and applications of nanocolloidal hydrogels. Chem Soc Rev 2023. [PMID: 37464914 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00387f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Nanocolloidal gels (NCGs) are an emerging class of soft matter, in which nanoparticles act as building blocks of the colloidal network. Chemical or physical crosslinking enables NCG synthesis and assembly from a broad range of nanoparticles, polymers, and low-molecular weight molecules. The synergistic properties of NCGs are governed by nanoparticle composition, dimensions and shape, the mechanism of nanoparticle bonding, and the NCG architecture, as well as the nature of molecular crosslinkers. Nanocolloidal gels find applications in soft robotics, bioengineering, optically active coatings and sensors, optoelectronic devices, and absorbents. This review summarizes currently scattered aspects of NCG formation, properties, characterization, and applications. We describe the diversity of NCG building blocks, discuss the mechanisms of NCG formation, review characterization techniques, outline NCG fabrication and processing methods, and highlight most common NCG applications. The review is concluded with the discussion of perspectives in the design and development of NCGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia M Morozova
- N.E. Bauman Moscow State Technical University, 5/1 2-nd Baumanskaya street, 105005, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto, 80 Saint George street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
| | - Albert Gevorkian
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto, 80 Saint George street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto, 80 Saint George street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry University of Toronto, 200 College street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
- The Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering University of Toronto, 4 Taddle Creek Road, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
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30
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Horkay F, Douglas JF. Influence of solvent quality on the swelling and deswelling and the shear modulus of semi-dilute solution cross-linked poly(vinyl acetate) gels. J Chem Phys 2023; 158:244901. [PMID: 37377156 PMCID: PMC10310356 DOI: 10.1063/5.0156604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We systematically examine the influence of varying temperature (T) over a large range in model poly(vinyl acetate) gels swollen in isopropyl alcohol. The theta temperature Θ, at which the second virial coefficient A2 vanishes, is found to be equal to within numerical uncertainty to the corresponding high molecular mass polymer solution value without cross-links, and we quantify the swelling and deswelling of our model gels relative to their size at T = Θ, as customary for individual flexible polymer chains in solutions. We also quantify the "solvent quality" dependence of the shear modulus G relative to G(T = Θ) and compare to the hydrogel swelling factor, α. We find that all our network swelling and deswelling data can be reduced to a scaling equation of the same general form as derived from renormalization group theory for flexible linear polymer chains in solutions so that it is not necessary to invoke either the Flory-Huggins mean field theory or the Flory-Rehner hypothesis that the elastic and mixing contributions to the free energy of network swelling are separable to describe our data. We also find that changes of G relative to G(T = Θ) are directly related to α. At the same time, we find that classical rubber elasticity theory describes many aspects of these semi-dilute solution cross-linked networks, regardless of the solvent quality, although the prefactor clearly reflects the existence of network defects whose concentration depends on the initial polymer concentration of the polymer solution from which the networks were synthesized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferenc Horkay
- Section on Quantitative Imaging and Tissue Sciences, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Jack F. Douglas
- Material Measurement Laboratory, Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
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31
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Vaupel S, Mau R, Kara S, Seitz H, Kragl U, Meyer J. 3D printed and stimulus responsive drug delivery systems based on synthetic polyelectrolyte hydrogels manufactured via digital light processing. J Mater Chem B 2023. [PMID: 37325953 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb00285c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogels are three-dimensional hydrophilic polymeric networks absorbing up to and even more than 90 wt% of water. These superabsorbent polymers retain their shape during the swelling process while enlarging their volume and mass. In addition to their swelling behavior, hydrogels can possess other interesting properties, such as biocompatibility, good rheological behavior, or even antimicrobial activity. This versatility qualifies hydrogels for many medical applications, especially drug delivery systems. As recently shown, polyelectrolyte-based hydrogels offer beneficial properties for long-term and stimulus-responsive applications. However, the fabrication of complex structures and shapes can be difficult to achieve with common polymerization methods. This obstacle can be overcome by the use of additive manufacturing. 3D printing technology is gaining more and more attention as a method of producing materials for biomedical applications and medical devices. Photopolymerizing 3D printing methods offer superior resolution and high control of the photopolymerization process, allowing the fabrication of complex and customizable designs while being less wasteful. In this work, novel synthetic hydrogels, consisting of [2-(acryloyloxy) ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride (AETMA) as an electrolyte monomer and poly(ethylene glycol)-diacrylate (PEGDA) as a crosslinker, 3D printed via Digital Light Processing (DLP) using a layer height of 100 μm, are reported. The hydrogels obtained showed a high swelling degree q∞m,t ∼ 12 (24 h in PBS; pH 7; 37 °C) and adjustable mechanical properties with high stretchability (εmax ∼ 300%). Additionally, we embedded the model drug acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and investigated its stimulus-responsive drug release behaviour in different release media. The stimulus responsiveness of the hydrogels is mirrored in their release behavior and could be exploited in triggered as well as sequential release studies, demonstrating a clear ion exchange behavior. The received 3D-printed drug depots could also be printed in complex hollow geometry, exemplarily demonstrated via an individualized frontal neo-ostium implant prototype. Consequently, a drug-releasing, flexible, and swellable material was obtained, combining the best of both worlds: the properties of hydrogels and the ability to print complex shapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Vaupel
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Callinstraße 5, 30167 Hannover, Germany.
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3a, 18059, Rostock, Germany
| | - Robert Mau
- Department Life, Light & Matter, Faculty for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 25, 18059 Rostock, Germany
- Microfluidics, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 6, 18059 Rostock, Germany
| | - Selin Kara
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Callinstraße 5, 30167 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Hermann Seitz
- Department Life, Light & Matter, Faculty for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 25, 18059 Rostock, Germany
- Microfluidics, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 6, 18059 Rostock, Germany
| | - Udo Kragl
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3a, 18059, Rostock, Germany
- Department Life, Light & Matter, Faculty for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 25, 18059 Rostock, Germany
| | - Johanna Meyer
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Callinstraße 5, 30167 Hannover, Germany.
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3a, 18059, Rostock, Germany
- Department Life, Light & Matter, Faculty for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 25, 18059 Rostock, Germany
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32
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Singh AK, Itkor P, Lee YS. State-of-the-Art Insights and Potential Applications of Cellulose-Based Hydrogels in Food Packaging: Advances towards Sustainable Trends. Gels 2023; 9:433. [PMID: 37367104 DOI: 10.3390/gels9060433] [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: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Leveraging sustainable packaging resources in the circular economy framework has gained significant attention in recent years as a means of minimizing waste and mitigating the negative environmental impact of packaging materials. In line with this progression, bio-based hydrogels are being explored for their potential application in a variety of fields including food packaging. Hydrogels are three-dimensional, hydrophilic networks composed of a variety of polymeric materials linked by chemical (covalent bonds) or physical (non-covalent interactions) cross-linking. The unique hydrophilic nature of hydrogels provides a promising solution for food packaging systems, specifically in regulating moisture levels and serving as carriers for bioactive substances, which can greatly affect the shelf life of food products. In essence, the synthesis of cellulose-based hydrogels (CBHs) from cellulose and its derivatives has resulted in hydrogels with several appealing features such as flexibility, water absorption, swelling capacity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, stimuli sensitivity, and cost-effectiveness. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the most recent trends and applications of CBHs in the food packaging sector including CBH sources, processing methods, and crosslinking methods for developing hydrogels through physical, chemical, and polymerization. Finally, the recent advancements in CBHs, which are being utilized as hydrogel films, coatings, and indicators for food packaging applications, are discussed in detail. These developments have great potential in creating sustainable packaging systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajit Kumar Singh
- Department of Packaging, Yonsei University, Wonju 26393, Republic of Korea
| | - Pontree Itkor
- Department of Packaging, Yonsei University, Wonju 26393, Republic of Korea
| | - Youn Suk Lee
- Department of Packaging, Yonsei University, Wonju 26393, Republic of Korea
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Rivera KO, Cuylear DL, Duke VR, O’Hara KM, Zhong JX, Elghazali NA, Finbloom JA, Kharbikar BN, Kryger AN, Miclau T, Marcucio RS, Bahney CS, Desai TA. Encapsulation of β-NGF in injectable microrods for localized delivery accelerates endochondral fracture repair. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1190371. [PMID: 37284244 PMCID: PMC10241161 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1190371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Currently, there are no non-surgical FDA-approved biological approaches to accelerate fracture repair. Injectable therapies designed to stimulate bone healing represent an exciting alternative to surgically implanted biologics, however, the translation of effective osteoinductive therapies remains challenging due to the need for safe and effective drug delivery. Hydrogel-based microparticle platforms may be a clinically relevant solution to create controlled and localized drug delivery to treat bone fractures. Here, we describe poly (ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA)-based microparticles, in the shape of microrods, loaded with beta nerve growth factor (β-NGF) for the purpose of promoting fracture repair. Methods: Herein, PEGDMA microrods were fabricated through photolithography. PEGDMA microrods were loaded with β-NGF and in vitro release was examined. Subsequently, bioactivity assays were evaluated in vitro using the TF-1 tyrosine receptor kinase A (Trk-A) expressing cell line. Finally, in vivo studies using our well-established murine tibia fracture model were performed and a single injection of the β-NGF loaded PEGDMA microrods, non-loaded PEGDMA microrods, or soluble β-NGF was administered to assess the extent of fracture healing using Micro-computed tomography (µCT) and histomorphometry. Results: In vitro release studies showed there is significant retention of protein within the polymer matrix over 168 hours through physiochemical interactions. Bioactivity of protein post-loading was confirmed with the TF-1 cell line. In vivo studies using our murine tibia fracture model show that PEGDMA microrods injected at the site of fracture remained adjacent to the callus for over 7 days. Importantly, a single injection of β-NGF loaded PEGDMA microrods resulted in improved fracture healing as indicated by a significant increase in the percent bone in the fracture callus, trabecular connective density, and bone mineral density relative to soluble β-NGF control indicating improved drug retention within the tissue. The concomitant decrease in cartilage fraction supports our prior work showing that β-NGF promotes endochondral conversion of cartilage to bone to accelerate healing. Discussion: We demonstrate a novel and translational method wherein β-NGF can be encapsulated within PEGDMA microrods for local delivery and that β-NGF bioactivity is maintained resulting in improved bone fracture repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin O. Rivera
- Graduate Program in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Trauma Institute, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Darnell L. Cuylear
- Graduate Program in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Victoria R. Duke
- Center for Regenerative and Personalized Medicine, The Steadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI), Vail, CO, United States
| | - Kelsey M. O’Hara
- Center for Regenerative and Personalized Medicine, The Steadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI), Vail, CO, United States
| | - Justin X. Zhong
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States
- UC Berkeley—UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Nafisa A. Elghazali
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States
- UC Berkeley—UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Joel A. Finbloom
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Bhushan N. Kharbikar
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Alex N. Kryger
- School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Theodore Miclau
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Trauma Institute, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Ralph S. Marcucio
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Trauma Institute, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Chelsea S. Bahney
- Graduate Program in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Trauma Institute, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States
- Center for Regenerative and Personalized Medicine, The Steadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI), Vail, CO, United States
- UC Berkeley—UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Tejal A. Desai
- Graduate Program in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), Berkeley, CA, United States
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
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34
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Nguyen TM, Chen HH, Chang YC, Ning TC, Chen KF. Remediation of groundwater contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) using a long-lasting persulfate/biochar barrier. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 333:138954. [PMID: 37201606 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater contamination by chlorinated solvents causes potential threats to water resources and human health. Therefore, it is important to develop effective technologies to remediate contaminated groundwater. This study uses biodegradable hydrophilic polymers, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as binders to manufacture persulfate (PS) tablets for the sustained release of persulfate to treat trichloroethylene (TCE) in groundwater. The release time for different tablets decreases in the order: HPMC (8-15 days) > HEC (7-8 days) > PVP (2-5 days). The efficiency with which persulfate is released is: HPMC (73-79%) > HEC (60-72%) > PVP (12-31%). HPMC is the optimal binder for the manufacture of persulfate tablets and persulfate is released from a tablet of HPMC/PS ratio (wt/wt) of 4/3 for 15 days at a release rate of 1127 mg/day. HPMC/PS/biochar (BC) ratios (wt/wt/wt) between 1/1/0.02 and 1/1/0.0333 are suitable for PS/BC tablets. PS/BC tablets release persulfate for 9-11 days at release rates of 1243 to 1073 mg/day. The addition of too much biochar weakens the structure of the tablets, which results in a rapid release of persulfate. TCE is oxidized by a PS tablet with an efficiency of 85% and a PS/BC tablet eliminates more TCE, with a removal efficiency of 100%, due to oxidation and adsorption during the 15 days of reaction. Oxidation is the predominant mechanism for TCE elimination by a PS/BC tablet. The adsorption of TCE by BC fits well with the pseudo-second-order kinetics and the pseudo-first-order kinetics, which describes the removal of TCE by PS and PS/BC tablets. The results of this study show that a PS/BC tablet can be used in a permeable reactive barrier for long-term passive remediation of groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi-Manh Nguyen
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Puli, Nantou, 545301, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Hsiang Chen
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Puli, Nantou, 545301, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chen Chang
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Puli, Nantou, 545301, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Chien Ning
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Puli, Nantou, 545301, Taiwan
| | - Ku-Fan Chen
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Puli, Nantou, 545301, Taiwan.
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35
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Qi Z, Tao X, Tan G, Tian B, Zhang L, Kundu SC, Lu S. Electro-responsive silk fibroin microneedles for controlled release of insulin. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 242:124684. [PMID: 37148951 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
To date, very limited work has been done on convenient and active control of insulin release. Herein, we report an electro-responsive insulin delivery system based on thiolated silk fibroin. The disulfide cross-linking points in TSF were reduced and broken to form sulfhydryl groups under electrification, which led to the increase of microneedle swelling degree and promoted insulin release. After power failure, the sulfhydryl group is oxidised to form disulfide bond crosslinking point again, resulting in the reduction of microneedle swelling degree and thus the reduction of release rate. The insulin loaded in the electro-responsive insulin delivery system showed good reversible electroresponsive release performance. The addition of graphene reduced the microneedle resistance and increased the drug release rate under current conditions. In vivo studies on type 1 diabetic mice show that electro-responsive insulin delivery system effectively controls the blood glucose before and after feeding by switching on and off the power supply, and this blood glucose control can be maintained within the safe range (100-200 mg/dL) for a long time (11h). Such electrically responsive delivery microneedles show potential for integration with glucose signal monitoring and are expected to build closed-loop insulin delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Qi
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaosheng Tao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Guohongfang Tan
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Tian
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Lehao Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Subhas C Kundu
- I3Bs Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegrabilities, and Biomimetics, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho, Barco 4805017, Portugal
| | - Shenzhou Lu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China.
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36
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Jimenez JM, Tuttle T, Guo Y, Miles D, Buganza-Tepole A, Calve S. Multiscale mechanical characterization and computational modeling of fibrin gels. Acta Biomater 2023; 162:292-303. [PMID: 36965611 PMCID: PMC10313219 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
Fibrin is a naturally occurring protein network that forms a temporary structure to enable remodeling during wound healing. It is also a common tissue engineering scaffold because the structural properties can be controlled. However, to fully characterize the wound healing process and improve the design of regenerative scaffolds, understanding fibrin mechanics at multiple scales is necessary. Here, we present a strategy to quantify both the macroscale (1-10 mm) stress-strain response and the deformation of the mesoscale (10-1000 µm) network structure during unidirectional tensile tests. The experimental data were then used to inform a computational model to accurately capture the mechanical response of fibrin gels. Simultaneous mechanical testing and confocal microscopy imaging of fluorophore-conjugated fibrin gels revealed up to an 88% decrease in volume coupled with increase in volume fraction in deformed gels, and non-affine fiber alignment in the direction of deformation. Combination of the computational model with finite element analysis enabled us to predict the strain fields that were observed experimentally within heterogenous fibrin gels with spatial variations in material properties. These strategies can be expanded to characterize and predict the macroscale mechanics and mesoscale network organization of other heterogeneous biological tissues and matrices. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Fibrin is a naturally-occurring scaffold that supports cellular growth and assembly of de novo tissue and has tunable material properties. Characterization of meso- and macro-scale mechanics of fibrin gel networks can advance understanding of the wound healing process and impact future tissue engineering approaches. Using structural and mechanical characteristics of fibrin gels, a theoretical and computational model that can predict multiscale fibrin network mechanics was developed. These data and model can be used to design gels with tunable properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian M Jimenez
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, 206 South Martin Jischke Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States
| | - Tyler Tuttle
- Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 1111 Engineering Dr, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
| | - Yifan Guo
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States
| | - Dalton Miles
- Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 3415 Colorado Ave, Boulder, CO 80303, United States
| | - Adrian Buganza-Tepole
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, 206 South Martin Jischke Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States; School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States.
| | - Sarah Calve
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, 206 South Martin Jischke Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States; Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 1111 Engineering Dr, Boulder, CO 80309, United States.
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37
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Wu DT, Diba M, Yang S, Freedman BR, Elosegui‐Artola A, Mooney DJ. Hydrogel viscoelasticity modulates migration and fusion of mesenchymal stem cell spheroids. Bioeng Transl Med 2023; 8:e10464. [PMID: 37206235 PMCID: PMC10189430 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Multicellular spheroids made of stem cells can act as building blocks that fuse to capture complex aspects of native in vivo environments, but the effect of hydrogel viscoelasticity on cell migration from spheroids and their fusion remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effect of viscoelasticity on migration and fusion behavior of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) spheroids using hydrogels with a similar elasticity but different stress relaxation profiles. Fast relaxing (FR) matrices were found to be significantly more permissive to cell migration and consequent fusion of MSC spheroids. Mechanistically, inhibition of ROCK and Rac1 pathways prevented cell migration. Moreover, the combination of biophysical and biochemical cues provided by fast relaxing hydrogels and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) supplementation, respectively, resulted in a synergistic enhancement of migration and fusion. Overall, these findings emphasize the important role of matrix viscoelasticity in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies based on spheroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- David T. Wu
- Laboratory for Cell and Tissue Engineering, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied SciencesHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Oral Medicine, Infection, and ImmunityHarvard School of Dental MedicineBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Mani Diba
- Laboratory for Cell and Tissue Engineering, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied SciencesHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Dentistry‐Regenerative BiomaterialsRadboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical CenterNijmegenthe Netherlands
| | - Stephanie Yang
- Laboratory for Cell and Tissue Engineering, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied SciencesHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Oral Medicine, Infection, and ImmunityHarvard School of Dental MedicineBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Benjamin R. Freedman
- Laboratory for Cell and Tissue Engineering, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied SciencesHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Alberto Elosegui‐Artola
- Laboratory for Cell and Tissue Engineering, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied SciencesHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Present address:
Cell and Tissue Mechanobiology LaboratoryThe Francis Crick InstituteLondonUK
- Present address:
Department of PhysicsKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - David J. Mooney
- Laboratory for Cell and Tissue Engineering, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied SciencesHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
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Hewawasam RS, Blomberg R, Šerbedžija P, Magin CM. Chemical Modification of Human Decellularized Extracellular Matrix for Incorporation into Phototunable Hybrid-Hydrogel Models of Tissue Fibrosis. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:15071-15083. [PMID: 36917510 PMCID: PMC11177228 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c18330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Tissue fibrosis remains a serious health condition with high morbidity and mortality rates. There is a critical need to engineer model systems that better recapitulate the spatial and temporal changes in the fibrotic extracellular microenvironment and enable study of the cellular and molecular alterations that occur during pathogenesis. Here, we present a process for chemically modifying human decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) and incorporating it into a dynamically tunable hybrid-hydrogel system containing a poly(ethylene glycol)-α methacrylate (PEGαMA) backbone. Following modification and characterization, an off-stoichiometry thiol-ene Michael addition reaction resulted in hybrid-hydrogels with mechanical properties that could be tuned to recapitulate many healthy tissue types. Next, photoinitiated, free-radical homopolymerization of excess α-methacrylates increased crosslinking density and hybrid-hydrogel elastic modulus to mimic a fibrotic microenvironment. The incorporation of dECM into the PEGαMA hydrogel decreased the elastic modulus and, relative to fully synthetic hydrogels, increased the swelling ratio, the average molecular weight between crosslinks, and the mesh size of hybrid-hydrogel networks. These changes were proportional to the amount of dECM incorporated into the network. Dynamic stiffening increased the elastic modulus and decreased the swelling ratio, average molecular weight between crosslinks, and the mesh size of hybrid-hydrogels, as expected. Stiffening also activated human fibroblasts, as measured by increases in average cellular aspect ratio (1.59 ± 0.02 to 2.98 ± 0.20) and expression of α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA). Fibroblasts expressing αSMA increased from 25.8 to 49.1% upon dynamic stiffening, demonstrating that hybrid-hydrogels containing human dECM support investigation of dynamic mechanosensing. These results improve our understanding of the biomolecular networks formed within hybrid-hydrogels: this fully human phototunable hybrid-hydrogel system will enable researchers to control and decouple the biochemical changes that occur during fibrotic pathogenesis from the resulting increases in stiffness to study the dynamic cell-matrix interactions that perpetuate fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rukshika S Hewawasam
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado, Denver|Anschutz Medical Campus, 2115 Scranton Street, Suite 3010, Aurora, Colorado 80045-2559, United States
| | - Rachel Blomberg
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado, Denver|Anschutz Medical Campus, 2115 Scranton Street, Suite 3010, Aurora, Colorado 80045-2559, United States
| | - Predrag Šerbedžija
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado, Denver|Anschutz Medical Campus, 2115 Scranton Street, Suite 3010, Aurora, Colorado 80045-2559, United States
| | - Chelsea M Magin
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado, Denver|Anschutz Medical Campus, 2115 Scranton Street, Suite 3010, Aurora, Colorado 80045-2559, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 2115 Scranton Street, Suite 3010, Aurora, Colorado 80045-2559, United States
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 2115 Scranton Street, Suite 3010, Aurora, Colorado 80045-2559, United States
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Hu Z, Liu D, Wang M, Yu C, Han Z, Xu M, Yue W, Nie G. β-Alanine enhancing the crosslink of chitosan/poly-(γ-glutamic acid) hydrogel for a potential alkaline-adapted wound dressing. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 231:123157. [PMID: 36649867 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123157] [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: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Tiny crosslink in chitosan (CS)/poly-(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) hydrogel leads to some disadvantages including low mechanical strength and high swelling. To enhance the crosslink of CS/γ-PGA hydrogel, amino acid (AA) was introduced to remove the drawbacks. The results indicated that AA can dramatically increase the crosslink and mechanical properties of CS/γ-PGA hydrogel, and AA chain length and concentration have a drastic effect on them. Particularly, 0.5 % β-Alanine (β-Ala) decreased the hydrogel by 70 % in porosity, 52 % in water solubility, and 30 % in swelling, but increased by 2.2-fold in elastic modulus, 2.08-fold in stress, and 1.53-fold in water retention. The porosity of the hydrogel correlates positively with the elastic modulus but negatively with the crosslinking degree. The effect of pH on CS/β-Ala/γ-PGA hydrogel was investigated in the load and release of benzalkonium chlorides (BAC). β-Ala strengthened pH response of the hydrogel in BAC load and release. The loading capacity increased with pH value, and 0.5 % β-Ala increased the hydrogel by 1.25-fold in the release capacity in alkaline environment, suggesting a good buffering effect of β-Ala on pH variation to accelerate the transportation of BAC. CS/β-Ala/γ-PGA hydrogel will be competently applied as a potential material for wound dressing in alkaline environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Hu
- College of biological and food engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000 Wuhu, China
| | - Dandan Liu
- College of biological and food engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000 Wuhu, China
| | - Mengmeng Wang
- College of biological and food engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000 Wuhu, China
| | - Chenrui Yu
- College of biological and food engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000 Wuhu, China
| | - Zhenxing Han
- College of biological and food engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000 Wuhu, China
| | - Maodong Xu
- School of chemical and environmental engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000 Wuhu, China
| | - Wenjin Yue
- School of chemical and environmental engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000 Wuhu, China.
| | - Guangjun Nie
- College of biological and food engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000 Wuhu, China.
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40
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Huang Y, Morozova SM, Li T, Li S, Naguib HE, Kumacheva E. Stimulus-Responsive Transport Properties of Nanocolloidal Hydrogels. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:1173-1183. [PMID: 36580573 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Applications of polymer hydrogels in separation technologies, environmental remediation, and drug delivery require control of hydrogel transport properties that are largely governed by the pore dimensions. Stimulus-responsive change in pore size offers the capability to change gel's transport properties "on demand". Here, we report a nanocolloidal hydrogel that exhibits temperature-controlled increase in pore size and, as a result, enhanced transport of encapsulated species from the gel. The hydrogel was formed by the covalent cross-linking of aldehyde-modified cellulose nanocrystals and chitosan carrying end-grafted poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAm) molecules. Owing to the temperature-mediated coil-to-globule transition of pNIPAm grafts, they acted as a temperature-responsive "gate" in the hydrogel. At elevated temperature, the size of the pores showed up to a 4-fold increase, with no significant changes in volume, in contrast with conventional pNIPAm-derived gels exhibiting a reduction in both pore size and volume in similar conditions. Temperature-mediated transport properties of the gel were explored by studying diffusion of nanoparticles with different dimensions from the gel, leading to the established correlation between the kinetics of diffusion-governed nanoparticle release and the ratio nanoparticle dimensions-to-pore size. The proposed approach to stimulus-responsive control of hydrogel transport properties has many applications, including their use in nanomedicine and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Huang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Sofia M Morozova
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3H6, Canada
- N.E. Bauman Moscow State Technical University, 5/1 Second Baumanskaya Street, Moscow105005, Russian Federation
| | - Terek Li
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 184 College Street, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3E4, Canada
| | - Shangyu Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Hani E Naguib
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3E5, Canada
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 184 College Street, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3E4, Canada
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3G8, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 4 Taddle Creek Road, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3E5, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3H6, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 4 Taddle Creek Road, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3G9, Canada
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Ingtipi K, Choudhury BJ, Moholkar VS. Kaolin-embedded cellulose hydrogel with tunable properties as a green fire retardant. Carbohydr Polym 2023; 313:120871. [PMID: 37182962 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.120871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
This study reports the synthesis of methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) crosslinked cellulose-kaolin (CMK) composite hydrogels. The internal structures of hydrogels were deduced using network parameters, viz. elastic modulus, average molecular weight, mesh size, and effective crosslink. Meanwhile, combustion behavior was investigated using the cone calorimeter test (CCT), limiting oxygen index (LOI) test, vertical flammability test (VFT), and open fire test (OFT). Our results revealed that kaolin addition improves the fire retardancy of hydrogels but reduces their swelling ability. Hydrogel having cellulose to MBA ratio of 1:2 and 2 % w/v kaolin (CM2K2) produced 63 % wt. char residue and the hydrogel-coated cotton fabric exhibited the lowest heat release rate (HRR) of 26.60 kJ/m2 and total heat release (THR) of 0.9 MJ/m2. The LOI of the cotton fabric surged from 20 % to 34.37 % after hydrogel coating. Kinetic analysis using the isoconversional model yielded the highest activation energy (216 kJ/mol) for the CM2K2 hydrogel, corroborating the increased LOI after kaolin addition. VFT and OFT validated the delay in the burning process and the formation of a char layer, which protected the underlying layer of cotton from burning. Overall, cellulose-kaolin hydrogels developed in this study are effective green fire retardant coatings for flammable materials.
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Sonu KP, Zhou L, Biswas S, Klier J, Balazs AC, Emrick T, Peyton SR. Strain-Stiffening Hydrogels with Dynamic, Secondary Cross-Linking. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:2659-2666. [PMID: 36752594 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogels are water-swollen, typically soft networks useful as biomaterials and in other fields of biotechnology. Hydrogel networks capable of sensing and responding to external perturbations, such as light, temperature, pH, or force, are useful across a wide range of applications requiring on-demand cross-linking or dynamic changes. Thus far, although mechanophores have been described as strain-sensitive reactive groups, embedding this type of force-responsiveness into hydrogels is unproven. Here, we synthesized multifunctional polymers that combine a hydrophilic zwitterion with permanently cross-linking alkenes, and dynamically cross-linking disulfides. From these polymers, we created hydrogels that contain irreversible and strong thiol-ene cross-links and reversible disulfide cross-links, and they stiffened in response to strain, increasing hundreds of kPa in modulus under compression. We examined variations in polymer composition and used a constitutive model to determine how to balance the number of thiol-ene vs disulfide cross-links to create maximally force-responsive networks. These strain-stiffening hydrogels represent potential biomaterials that benefit from the mechanoresponsive behavior needed for emerging applications in areas such as tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- K P Sonu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, 240 Thatcher Way, Life Sciences Laboratory N531, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Le Zhou
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 120 Governors Drive, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Santidan Biswas
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - John Klier
- Department of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Carson Engineering Center, Room 107, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-0631, United States
| | - Anna C Balazs
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Todd Emrick
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 120 Governors Drive, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Shelly R Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, 240 Thatcher Way, Life Sciences Laboratory N531, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
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43
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Sorichetti V, Ninarello A, Ruiz-Franco J, Hugouvieux V, Zaccarelli E, Micheletti C, Kob W, Rovigatti L. Structure and elasticity of model disordered, polydisperse, and defect-free polymer networks. J Chem Phys 2023; 158:074905. [PMID: 36813705 DOI: 10.1063/5.0134271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The elasticity of disordered and polydisperse polymer networks is a fundamental problem of soft matter physics that is still open. Here, we self-assemble polymer networks via simulations of a mixture of bivalent and tri- or tetravalent patchy particles, which result in an exponential strand length distribution analogous to that of experimental randomly cross-linked systems. After assembly, the network connectivity and topology are frozen and the resulting system is characterized. We find that the fractal structure of the network depends on the number density at which the assembly has been carried out, but that systems with the same mean valence and same assembly density have the same structural properties. Moreover, we compute the long-time limit of the mean-squared displacement, also known as the (squared) localization length, of the cross-links and of the middle monomers of the strands, showing that the dynamics of long strands is well described by the tube model. Finally, we find a relation connecting these two localization lengths at high density and connect the cross-link localization length to the shear modulus of the system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Sorichetti
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, F-34095 Montpellier, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Cristian Micheletti
- SISSA-Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Walter Kob
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, F-34095 Montpellier, France
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44
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Bhuyan MM, Jeong JH. Synthesis and Characterization of Gamma Radiation Induced Diallyldimethylammonium Chloride-Acrylic Acid-(3-Acrylamidopropyl) Trimethylammonium Chloride Superabsorbent Hydrogel. Gels 2023; 9:gels9020159. [PMID: 36826329 PMCID: PMC9956196 DOI: 10.3390/gels9020159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The gamma radiation technique is simple and time-saving for the synthesis of pure hydrogels. The present work focuses on synthesizing and characterizing Diallyldimethylammonium Chloride-Acrylic acid-(3-Acrylamidopropyl) trimethylammonium Chloride (DADMAC-AAc-APTAC) superabsorbent hydrogels. The hydrogels were synthesized by applying gamma radiation of different doses (2 kGy to 30 kGy) to two different compositions of monomers. The equilibrium swelling was found to be 33483.48% of dried gel for a 1:0.5:1 composition ratio of monomers at a 2 kGy radiation dose. Therefore, on the basis of equilibrium swelling, 2 kGy is the optimum radiation dose for synthesizing the hydrogel. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization techniques were used to analyze and confirm the structure of the hydrogel. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) clearly showed the thermal stability and surface morphology of the gel. Therefore, it can be concluded that hydrogels can be used in metal adsorption, drug delivery, and other fields of study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Murshed Bhuyan
- Research Institute of Environment for Sustainability, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-Ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
- Thermal-Fluid Energy Machine Lab., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Gachon University, 1342, Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 13120, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: (M.M.B.); (J.-H.J.); Tel./Fax: +82-42-750-5654 (J.-H.J.)
| | - Jae-Ho Jeong
- Thermal-Fluid Energy Machine Lab., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Gachon University, 1342, Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 13120, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: (M.M.B.); (J.-H.J.); Tel./Fax: +82-42-750-5654 (J.-H.J.)
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45
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Foudazi R, Zowada R, Manas-Zloczower I, Feke DL. Porous Hydrogels: Present Challenges and Future Opportunities. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:2092-2111. [PMID: 36719086 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In this feature article, we critically review the physical properties of porous hydrogels and their production methods. Our main focus is nondense hydrogels that have physical pores besides the space available between adjacent cross-links in the polymer network. After reviewing theories on the kinetics of swelling, equilibrium swelling, the structure-stiffness relationship, and solute diffusion in dense hydrogels, we propose future directions to develop models for porous hydrogels. The aim is to show how porous hydrogels can be designed and produced for studies leading to the modeling of physical properties. Additionally, different methods that are used for making hydrogels with physically incorporated pores are briefly reviewed while discussing the potentials, challenges, and future directions for each method. Among kinetic methods, we discuss bubble generation approaches including reactions, gas injection, phase separation, electrospinning, and freeze-drying. Templating approaches discussed are solid-phase, self-assembled amphiphiles, emulsion, and foam methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Foudazi
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma73069, United States
| | - Ryan Zowada
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico88003, United States
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46
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Blažic R, Marušić K, Vidović E. Swelling and Viscoelastic Properties of Cellulose-Based Hydrogels Prepared by Free Radical Polymerization of Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate in Cellulose Solution. Gels 2023; 9:gels9020094. [PMID: 36826264 PMCID: PMC9956197 DOI: 10.3390/gels9020094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The grafting of a stimuli-responsive polymer (poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)) onto cellulose was achieved by performing free radical polymerization of a vinyl/divinyl monomer in cellulose solution. The grafting and crosslinking efficiency in the material have been increased by subsequent irradiation of the samples with ionizing radiation (doses of 10, 30, or 100 kGy). The relative amount of poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) in the prepared hydrogels was determined by infrared spectroscopy. The swelling behavior of the hydrogels was studied thoroughly, including microgelation extent, equilibrium swelling, and reswelling degree, as well as the dependence on the gelation procedure. The dynamic viscoelastic behavior of prepared hydrogels was also studied. The tan δ values indicate a solid-like behavior while the obtained hydrogels have a complex modulus in the range of 14-39 kPa, which is suitable for hydrogels used in biomedical applications. In addition, the incorporation of Ag particles and the adsorption of Fe3+ ions were tested to evaluate the additional functionalities of the prepared hydrogels. It was found that the introduction of PDMAEMA to the hydrogels enhanced their ability to synthesize Ag particles and absorb Fe3+ ions, providing a platform for the potential preparation of hydrogels for the treatment of wounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roko Blažic
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, Marulićev trg 19, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Katarina Marušić
- Radiation Chemistry and Dosimetry Laboratory, Division of Materials Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Elvira Vidović
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, Marulićev trg 19, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Correspondence:
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47
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Richbourg NR, Peppas NA. Solute diffusion and partitioning in multi-arm poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:377-388. [PMID: 36511476 DOI: 10.1039/d2tb02004a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Controlling solute transport in hydrogels is critical for numerous chemical separation applications, tissue engineering, and drug delivery systems. In previous review work, we have pointed out that proposed theoretical models and associated experiments tend to oversimplify the influence of the hydrogel structure on solute transport by addressing only the effects of the polymer volume fraction and mesh size of the networks on solute transport. Here, we reexamine these models by experimenting with a library of multi-arm poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels with simultaneous variations in four independent structural parameters. Standardized, high-throughput fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments in hydrogels characterize size-dependent solute diffusion and partitioning in each hydrogel formulation. Solute diffusivity dependence on junction functionality shows an influence from network geometry that is not addressed by mesh size-based models, experimentally validating the use of the geometry-responsive mesh radius in solute diffusivity modeling. Furthermore, the Richbourg-Peppas swollen polymer network (SPN) model accurately predicts how three of the four structural parameters affect solute diffusivity in hydrogels. Comparison with the large pore effective medium (LPEM) model showed that the SPN model better predicts solute size and hydrogel structure effects on diffusivity. This study provides a framework for investigating solute transport in hydrogels that will continue to improve hydrogel design for tissue engineering and drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan R Richbourg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
| | - Nicholas A Peppas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA. .,McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.,Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.,Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics, Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
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48
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Bhuyan MM, Jophous M, Jeong JH. Preparation of Pectin–Acrylamide–(Vinyl phosphonic acid) hydrogel and its selective adsorption of metal ions. Polym Bull (Berl) 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00289-022-04649-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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49
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Naeem A, Yu C, Zhu W, Chen X, Wu X, Chen L, Zang Z, Guan Y. Gallic Acid-Loaded Sodium Alginate-Based (Polyvinyl Alcohol-Co-Acrylic Acid) Hydrogel Membranes for Cutaneous Wound Healing: Synthesis and Characterization. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27238397. [PMID: 36500491 PMCID: PMC9736476 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional wound dressings often cannot treat wounds caused by bacterial infections or other wound types that are insensitive to these wound treatments. Therefore, a biodegradable, bioactive hydrogel wound dressing could be an effective alternative option. The purpose of this study was to develop a hydrogel membrane comprised of sodium alginate, polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic acid, and gallic acid for treating skin wounds. The newly developed membranes were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), sol-gel fraction, porosity, mechanical strength, swelling, drug release and data modelling, polymeric network parameters, biodegradation, and antioxidation (DPPH and ABTS) and antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and negative bacteria. The results revealed that hydrogel membranes were crosslinked successfully and had excellent thermal stability, high drug loading, greater mechanical strength, and exhibited excellent biodegradation. Additionally, the swelling ability and the porosity of the surface facilitated a controlled release of the encapsulated drug (gallic acid), with 70.34% release observed at pH 1.2, 70.10% at pH 5.5 (normal skin pH), and 86.24% at pH 7.4 (wounds pH) in 48 h. The gallic acid-loaded hydrogel membranes showed a greater area of inhibition against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli bacteria as well as demonstrated excellent antioxidant properties. Based on Franz cell analyses, the permeation flux of the drug from optimized formulations through mice skin was 92 (pH 5.5) and 110 (pH 7.4) μg/cm2·h-1. Moreover, hydrogel membranes retained significant amounts of drug in the skin for 24 h, such as 2371 (pH 5.5) and 3300 µg/cm2 (pH 7.4). Acute dermal irritation tests in rats showed that hydrogel membranes were nonirritating. Hydrogel membranes containing gallic acid could be an effective option for improving wound healing and could result in faster wound healing.
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50
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Lei L, Huang D, Gao H, He B, Cao J, Peppas NA. Hydrogel-guided strategies to stimulate an effective immune response for vaccine-based cancer immunotherapy. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadc8738. [PMID: 36427310 PMCID: PMC9699680 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adc8738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Cancer vaccines have attracted widespread interest in tumor therapy because of the potential to induce an effective antitumor immune response. However, many challenges including weak immunogenicity, off-target effects, and immunosuppressive microenvironments have prevented their broad clinical translation. To overcome these difficulties, effective delivery systems have been designed for cancer vaccines. As carriers in cancer vaccine delivery systems, hydrogels have gained substantial attention because they can encapsulate a variety of antigens/immunomodulators and protect them from degradation. This enables hydrogels to simultaneously reverse immunosuppression and stimulate the immune response. Meanwhile, the controlled release properties of hydrogels allow for precise temporal and spatial release of loads in situ to further enhance the immune response of cancer vaccines. Therefore, this review summarizes the classification of cancer vaccines, highlights the strategies of hydrogel-based cancer vaccines, and provides some insights into the future development of hydrogel-based cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Lei
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
| | - Dennis Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Institute for Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Regenerative Medicine, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Huile Gao
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
| | - Bin He
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, P. R. China
| | - Jun Cao
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, P. R. China
| | - Nicholas A. Peppas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Institute for Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Regenerative Medicine, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics, Surgery, and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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