1
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Choi W, Kohane DS. Hybrid Nanoparticle-Hydrogel Systems for Drug Delivery Depots and Other Biomedical Applications. ACS NANO 2024; 18:22780-22792. [PMID: 39140388 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c06888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Hydrogel-based depots typically tend to remain where injected and have excellent biocompatibility but are relatively poor at controlling drug release. Nanoparticles (NPs) typically have the opposite properties. The smaller the NPs are, the more likely they are to leave the site of injection. Their biocompatibility is variable depending on the material but can be poor. However, NPs can be good at controlling drug release. In these and other properties, combining NPs and hydrogels can leverage their advantages and negate their disadvantages. This review highlights the rationale for hybrid NP-hydrogel systems in drug delivery, the basic methods of producing them, and examples where combining the two systems addressed specific problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonmin Choi
- Laboratory for Biomaterials and Drug Delivery, Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Daniel S Kohane
- Laboratory for Biomaterials and Drug Delivery, Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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2
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Zhao L, Arias SL, Zipfel W, Brito IL, Yeo J. Coarse-grained modeling and dynamics tracking of nanoparticles diffusion in human gut mucus. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 267:131434. [PMID: 38614182 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131434] [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: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract's mucus layer serves as a critical barrier and a mediator in drug nanoparticle delivery. The mucus layer's diverse molecular structures and spatial complexity complicates the mechanistic study of the diffusion dynamics of particulate materials. In response, we developed a bi-component coarse-grained mucus model, specifically tailored for the colorectal cancer environment, that contained the two most abundant glycoproteins in GI mucus: Muc2 and Muc5AC. This model demonstrated the effects of molecular composition and concentration on mucus pore size, a key determinant in the permeability of nanoparticles. Using this computational model, we investigated the diffusion rate of polyethylene glycol (PEG) coated nanoparticles, a widely used muco-penetrating nanoparticle. We validated our model with experimentally characterized mucus pore sizes and the diffusional coefficients of PEG-coated nanoparticles in the mucus collected from cultured human colorectal goblet cells. Machine learning fingerprints were then employed to provide a mechanistic understanding of nanoparticle diffusional behavior. We found that larger nanoparticles tended to be trapped in mucus over longer durations but exhibited more ballistic diffusion over shorter time spans. Through these discoveries, our model provides a promising platform to study pharmacokinetics in the GI mucus layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liming Zhao
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Sandra L Arias
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Warren Zipfel
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Ilana L Brito
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
| | - Jingjie Yeo
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
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3
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Subraveti SN, Peters SM, Nader MG, Burni FA, Raghavan SR. A Smart Skin for Hydrogels That Enables Switchable Solute Release. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:9201-9209. [PMID: 38329464 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c10515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Many applications of hydrogels rely on their ability to deliver encapsulated solutes, such as drugs; however, small hydrophilic solutes rapidly leak out of gels by diffusion. A need exists for a way to regulate solute release out of gels─to ensure zero release until a desired time (the OFF state) and thereafter for the release to be switched ON at a high rate. This should ideally be a repeatable switch; i.e., the gel should be cyclable repeatedly between the ON and OFF states. Such perfect, cyclical ON-OFF release of solutes from gels is demonstrated for the first time through a "smart skin" that is synthesized rapidly (in ∼10 min) around an entire gel. The thin (∼100 μm) and transparent polymer skin is endowed with redox-responsive properties through the use of urethane and acrylate monomers, one of which contains a thioether group. Initially, the skin is hydrophobic (water contact angle 102°), and it completely prevents hydrophilic solutes from leaking out of the gel. When contacted with oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the thioethers are converted to sulfoxides, making the skin hydrophilic (water contact angle 42°) and thereby turning ON the release of solutes. Conversely, solute release can be turned OFF subsequently by adding a reducing agent such as vitamin C that reverts the sulfoxides to thioethers and thus returns the skin to its hydrophobic state. The release rate in the ON state can be tuned via the skin thickness as well as the oxidant concentration. The ability to regulate solute delivery from gels using smart skins is likely to prove significant in areas ranging from separations to agriculture and drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Nikhil Subraveti
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Sebastian M Peters
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Morine G Nader
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Faraz A Burni
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Srinivasa R Raghavan
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
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4
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Moncure P, Millstone JE, Laaser JE. Role of Ligand Shell Density in the Diffusive Behavior of Nanoparticles in Hydrogels. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:9366-9377. [PMID: 37857360 PMCID: PMC10626584 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c03249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
The diffusion coefficients of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether thiol (PEGSH)-functionalized gold nanoparticles (NPs) with different effective grafting densities were measured in polyacrylamide hydrogels. The NP core size was held constant, and the NPs were functionalized with mixtures of short oligomeric ligands (254 Da PEGSH) and longer (either 1 or 2 kDa PEGSH) ligands. The ratio of short and long ligands was varied such that the grafting density of the high-molecular-weight (MW) ligand ranged from approximately 1 to 100 high-MW ligands/NP. The diffusion coefficients of the NPs were then measured in gels with varying average mesh sizes. The measured diffusion coefficients decreased with higher MW ligand density. Interestingly, the diffusion coefficients for NPs with high effective grafting densities were well-predicted by their hydrodynamic diameters, but the diffusion coefficients for NPs with low effective grafting densities were higher than expected from their hydrodynamic diameters. These results suggest that crowding in the NP ligand shell influences the mechanism of diffusion, with lower grafting densities allowing ligand chain relaxations that facilitate movement through the gel. This work brings new insights into the factors that dictate how NPs move through hydrogels and will inform the development of models for applications such as drug delivery in complex viscoelastic biological materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige
J. Moncure
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Jill E. Millstone
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Jennifer E. Laaser
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
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5
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Pourtalebi Jahromi L, Rothammer M, Fuhrmann G. Polysaccharide hydrogel platforms as suitable carriers of liposomes and extracellular vesicles for dermal applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 200:115028. [PMID: 37517778 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Lipid-based nanocarriers have been extensively investigated for their application in drug delivery. Particularly, liposomes are now clinically established for treating various diseases such as fungal infections. In contrast, extracellular vesicles (EVs) - small cell-derived nanoparticles involved in cellular communication - have just recently sparked interest as drug carriers but their development is still at the preclinical level. To drive this development further, the methods and technologies exploited in the context of liposome research should be applied in the domain of EVs to facilitate and accelerate their clinical translation. One of the crucial steps for EV-based therapeutics is designing them as proper dosage forms for specific applications. This review offers a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art polysaccharide-based hydrogel platforms designed for artificial and natural vesicles with application in drug delivery to the skin. We discuss their various physicochemical and biological properties and try to create a sound basis for the optimization of EV-embedded hydrogels as versatile therapeutic avenues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Pourtalebi Jahromi
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Department of Biology, Pharmaceutical Biology, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus Rothammer
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Department of Biology, Pharmaceutical Biology, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Gregor Fuhrmann
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Department of Biology, Pharmaceutical Biology, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany; FAU NeW, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Str. 10, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.
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6
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Tanimoto R, Ebara M, Uto K. Tunable enzymatically degradable hydrogels for controlled cargo release with dynamic mechanical properties. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:6224-6233. [PMID: 37493066 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00475a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Here, we designed enzymatically degradable hydrogels with tunable mesh sizes and crosslinking points to evaluate the effectiveness of network structure estimations in predicting dynamic mechanical properties and cargo retention or release. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels were prepared through a thiol-ene click reaction between four- or eight-arm PEG functionalized with vinyl sulfone and cysteine residues of collagenase-degradable peptides to create well-defined, homogenous, and robust materials with a range of mesh sizes estimated from the elasticity theory or Flory-Rehner theory. Time-dependent changes in mechanical properties associated with hydrogel degradation, i.e., dynamics of storage modulus, which is determined by the relationship between the hydrogel mesh and enzyme sizes, were characterized. The shear modulus G' decreased by enzyme addition, and the degradation rate decreased with the initial crosslinking density of the hydrogel. The degradation rate could also be controlled with the reactivity of peptide sequences against collagenase. With these findings, the retention and release of FITC-dextran were successfully controlled by tuning the mesh size and degradability of the hydrogel. This report provides useful insights for designing hydrogels as cell scaffolds or functional molecular delivery matrices with tunable dynamic mechanical properties and the resulting release of loaded drugs or proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riho Tanimoto
- Research Center for Macromolecules and Biomaterials, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan.
- Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Ebara
- Research Center for Macromolecules and Biomaterials, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan.
- Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan
- Graduate School of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
| | - Koichiro Uto
- Research Center for Macromolecules and Biomaterials, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan.
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7
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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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8
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Lavrentev FV, Shilovskikh VV, Alabusheva VS, Yurova VY, Nikitina AA, Ulasevich SA, Skorb EV. Diffusion-Limited Processes in Hydrogels with Chosen Applications from Drug Delivery to Electronic Components. Molecules 2023; 28:5931. [PMID: 37570901 PMCID: PMC10421015 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28155931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffusion is one of the key nature processes which plays an important role in respiration, digestion, and nutrient transport in cells. In this regard, the present article aims to review various diffusion approaches used to fabricate different functional materials based on hydrogels, unique examples of materials that control diffusion. They have found applications in fields such as drug encapsulation and delivery, nutrient delivery in agriculture, developing materials for regenerative medicine, and creating stimuli-responsive materials in soft robotics and microrobotics. In addition, mechanisms of release and drug diffusion kinetics as key tools for material design are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipp V. Lavrentev
- Infochemistry Scientific Center, ITMO University, 191002 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (V.S.A.); (V.Y.Y.); (A.A.N.); (S.A.U.)
| | - Vladimir V. Shilovskikh
- Laboratory of Polymer and Composite Materials “SmartTextiles”, IRC–X-ray Coherent Optics, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, 236041 Kaliningrad, Russia;
| | - Varvara S. Alabusheva
- Infochemistry Scientific Center, ITMO University, 191002 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (V.S.A.); (V.Y.Y.); (A.A.N.); (S.A.U.)
| | - Veronika Yu. Yurova
- Infochemistry Scientific Center, ITMO University, 191002 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (V.S.A.); (V.Y.Y.); (A.A.N.); (S.A.U.)
| | - Anna A. Nikitina
- Infochemistry Scientific Center, ITMO University, 191002 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (V.S.A.); (V.Y.Y.); (A.A.N.); (S.A.U.)
| | - Sviatlana A. Ulasevich
- Infochemistry Scientific Center, ITMO University, 191002 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (V.S.A.); (V.Y.Y.); (A.A.N.); (S.A.U.)
| | - Ekaterina V. Skorb
- Infochemistry Scientific Center, ITMO University, 191002 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (V.S.A.); (V.Y.Y.); (A.A.N.); (S.A.U.)
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9
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Zhou Q, Liu J, Yan J, Guo Z, Zhang F. Magnetic microspheres mimicking certain functions of macrophages: Towards precise antibacterial potency for bone defect healing. Mater Today Bio 2023; 20:100651. [PMID: 37206878 PMCID: PMC10189291 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
A variety of novel biomaterials have recently been developed to promote bone regeneration. However, the current biomaterials cannot accurately and effectively resist bacterial invasion. In this study, we constructed microspheres that mimic certain functions of macrophages as additives to bone repair materials, which can be manipulated as demanded to resist bacteria effectively and protect bone defect healing. Firstly, we prepared gelatin microspheres (GMSs) by an emulsion-crosslinking method, which were subsequently coated with polydopamine (PDA). Then, amino antibacterial nanoparticles obtained by a nanoprecipitation-self-assembly method and commercial amino magnetic nanoparticles were modified onto these PDA-coated GMSs to construct the functionalized microspheres (FMSs). The results showed that the FMSs possessed a rough topography and could be manipulated by a 100-400 mT static magnetic field to migrate directionally in unsolidified hydrogels. Moreover, in vitro experiments with near-infrared (NIR) showed that the FMSs had a sensitive and recyclable photothermal performance and could capture and kill Porphyromonas gingivalis by releasing reactive oxygen species. Finally, the FMSs were mixed with osteogenic hydrogel precursor, injected into the Sprague-Dawley rat periodontal bone defect of maxillary first molar (M1), and subsequently driven by magnetism to the cervical surface of M1 and the outer surface of the gel system for targeted sterilization under NIR, thus protecting the bone defect healing. In conclusion, the FMSs had excellent manipulation and antimicrobial performances. This provided us with a promising strategy to construct light-magnetism-responsive antibacterial materials to build a beneficial environment for bone defect healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Zhou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
- Department of Prosthodontics, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Stomatological Translational Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Stomatological Translational Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China
- Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Jia Yan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
- Department of Prosthodontics, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Stomatological Translational Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Zhaobin Guo
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Feimin Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
- Department of Prosthodontics, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Stomatological Translational Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China
- Corresponding author. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University; Department of Prosthodontics, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University; Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Stomatological Translational Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China.
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10
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Burroughs MC, Schloemer TH, Congreve DN, Mai DJ. Gelation Dynamics during Photo-Cross-Linking of Polymer Nanocomposite Hydrogels. ACS POLYMERS AU 2022; 3:217-227. [PMID: 37065714 PMCID: PMC10103194 DOI: 10.1021/acspolymersau.2c00051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Embedding nanomaterials into polymer hydrogels enables the design of functional materials with tailored chemical, mechanical, and optical properties. Nanocapsules that protect interior cargo and disperse readily through a polymeric matrix have drawn particular interest for their ability to integrate chemically incompatible systems and to further expand the parameter space for polymer nanocomposite hydrogels. The properties of polymer nanocomposite hydrogels depend on the material composition and processing route, which were explored systematically in this work. The gelation kinetics of network-forming polymer solutions with and without silica-coated nanocapsules bearing polyethylene glycol (PEG) surface ligands were investigated using in situ dynamic rheology measurements. Network-forming polymers comprised either 4-arm or 8-arm star PEG with terminal anthracene groups, which dimerize upon irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) light. The PEG-anthracene solutions exhibited rapid gel formation upon UV exposure (365 nm); gel formation was observed as a crossover from liquid-like to solid-like behavior during in situ small-amplitude oscillatory shear rheology. This crossover time was non-monotonic with polymer concentration. Far below the overlap concentration (c/c* ≪ 1), spatially separated PEG-anthracene molecules were subject to forming intramolecular loops over intermolecular cross-links, thereby slowing the gelation process. Near the polymer overlap concentration (c/c* ∼ 1), rapid gelation was attributed to the ideal proximity of anthracene end groups from neighboring polymer molecules. Above the overlap concentration (c/c* > 1), increased solution viscosities hindered molecular diffusion, thereby reducing the frequency of dimerization reactions. Adding nanocapsules to PEG-anthracene solutions resulted in faster gelation than nanocapsule-free PEG-anthracene solutions with equivalent effective polymer concentrations. The final elastic modulus of nanocomposite hydrogels increased with nanocapsule volume fraction, signifying synergistic mechanical reinforcement by nanocapsules despite not being cross-linked into the polymer network. Overall, these findings quantify the impact of nanocapsule addition on the gelation kinetics and mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposite hydrogels, which are promising materials for applications in optoelectronics, biotechnology, and additive manufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C. Burroughs
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California94305, United States
| | - Tracy H. Schloemer
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California94305, United States
| | - Daniel N. Congreve
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California94305, United States
| | - Danielle J. Mai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California94305, United States
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11
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Mashiach R, Avram L, Bar-Shir A. Diffusion 19F-NMR of Nanofluorides: In Situ Quantification of Colloidal Diameters and Protein Corona Formation in Solution. NANO LETTERS 2022; 22:8519-8525. [PMID: 36255401 PMCID: PMC9650773 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c02994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The NMR-detectability of elements of organic ligands that stabilize colloidal inorganic nanocrystals (NCs) allow the study of their diffusion characteristics in solutions. Nevertheless, these measurements are sensitive to dynamic ligand exchange and often lead to overestimation of diffusion coefficients of dispersed colloids. Here, we present an approach for the quantitative assessment of the diffusion properties of colloidal NCs based on the NMR signals of the elements of their inorganic cores. Benefiting from the robust 19F-NMR signals of the fluorides in the core of colloidal CaF2 and SrF2, we show the immunity of 19F-diffusion NMR to dynamic ligand exchange and, thus, the ability to quantify, with high accuracy, the colloidal diameters of different types of nanofluorides in situ. With the demonstrated ability to characterize the formation of protein corona at the surface of nanofluorides, we envision that this study can be extended to additional formulations and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reut Mashiach
- Department
of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science and Department of
Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute
of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Liat Avram
- Department
of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science and Department of
Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute
of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Amnon Bar-Shir
- Department
of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science and Department of
Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute
of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
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12
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Holló G, Zámbó D, Deák A, Rossi F, Cucciniello R, Lo Nostro P, Nabika H, Baytekin B, Lagzi I, Itatani M. Effect of the Polarity of Solvents on Periodic Precipitation: Formation of Hierarchical Revert Liesegang Patterns. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:8322-8330. [PMID: 36219566 PMCID: PMC9589725 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c05810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Liesegang pattern (LP) is one example of self-organized periodic precipitation patterns in nonequilibrium systems. Several studies have demonstrated that the LP morphology can track physicochemical environmental conditions (e.g., temperature); however, the polarity effect has not been explored to date. In this study, a copper chromate system is used to reveal the impact of solvent polarity on the evolving LP structure using water/organic solvent mixtures. In the typical case of using water/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) mixtures, two drastic changes in LP morphology with increasing DMSO contents were found: (i) increasing frequency of the original structure and (ii) formation of a hierarchical pattern with the appearance of another, lower-frequency structure. Furthermore, the simulation model operating with a bimodal size distribution, allowing both homogeneous and heterogeneous precipitations showed good agreement with the experimental results. Therefore, this study demonstrated that LP can be tailored by solvent polarity and can be used for designing hierarchical precipitation patterns in a straightforward manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gábor Holló
- ELKH-BME
Condensed Matter Research Group, Budapest
University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rakpart 3, Budapest1111, Hungary
| | - Dániel Zámbó
- Institute
of Technical Physics and Materials Science, Centre for Energy Research, Konkoly-Thege Miklós út 29-33, H-1121Budapest, Hungary
| | - András Deák
- Institute
of Technical Physics and Materials Science, Centre for Energy Research, Konkoly-Thege Miklós út 29-33, H-1121Budapest, Hungary
| | - Federico Rossi
- Department
of Earth, Environmental and Physical Sciences—DEEP Sciences, University of Siena, Pian dei Mantellini 44, 53100Siena, Italy
| | - Raffaele Cucciniello
- Department
of Chemistry and Biology “Adolfo Zambelli”, University of Salerno, Viale Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Pierandrea Lo Nostro
- Department
of Chemistry ‘Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Hideki Nabika
- Faculty of
Science, Yamagata University, 1-4-12, Kojirakawa, Yamagata990-8560, Japan
| | - Bilge Baytekin
- Department
of Chemistry and UNAM, Bilkent University, 06800Ankara, Turkey
| | - István Lagzi
- ELKH-BME
Condensed Matter Research Group, Budapest
University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rakpart 3, Budapest1111, Hungary,Department
of Physics, Institute of Physics, Budapest
University of Technology and Economics, Budafoki út 8, Budapest1111, Hungary,
| | - Masaki Itatani
- Department
of Physics, Institute of Physics, Budapest
University of Technology and Economics, Budafoki út 8, Budapest1111, Hungary,
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