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Siev EA, Batista BC, Steinbock O. Coiling of Secondary Tubes Formed from the Colloidal Exhaust of Primary Chemical Gardens. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:2028-2036. [PMID: 38378455 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c07840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Chemical gardens are self-organized precipitate structures such as thin-walled tubes and membrane-bound cells reminiscent of biological shapes. These usually inorganic precipitates compartmentalize the reaction system and allow the study of materials synthesis in very steep concentration gradients. We create such tubes by steadily injecting a mixture of MnCl2 and CuSO4 solutions into a large reservoir of sodium silicate solution. The growing tube is open at its tip and ejects a stream of colloidal particles that aggregate to form a secondary tube above the original one. This secondary tube can coil into a tightly wound nest-like structure, freely suspended underneath the solution-air interface. Using three-dimensional image reconstruction, we analyze the onset of coiling and show that the structure is helical with a helix radius that increases in the vertical direction. The height at which the coiling begins is lowered with each successive repeat of the growth experiment, suggesting that coiling is induced by small variations in the density of the silicate solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elee A Siev
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4390, United States
| | - Bruno C Batista
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4390, United States
| | - Oliver Steinbock
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4390, United States
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2
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Shmakov SL, Babicheva TS, Kurochkina VA, Lugovitskaya TN, Shipovskaya AB. Structural and Morphological Features of Anisotropic Chitosan Hydrogels Obtained by Ion-Induced Neutralization in a Triethanolamine Medium. Gels 2023; 9:876. [PMID: 37998966 PMCID: PMC10670621 DOI: 10.3390/gels9110876] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
For the first time, anisotropic hydrogel material with a highly oriented structure was obtained by the chemical reaction of polymer-analogous transformation of chitosan glycolate-chitosan base using triethanolamine (TEA) as a neutralizing reagent. Tangential bands or concentric rings, depending on the reaction conditions, represent the structural anisotropy of the hydrogel. The formation kinetics and the ratio of the positions of these periodic structures are described by the Liesegang regularities. Detailed information about the bands is given (formation time, coordinate, width, height, and formation rate). The supramolecular ordering anisotropy of the resulting material was evaluated both by the number of Liesegang bands (up to 16) and by the average values of the TEA diffusion coefficient ((15-153) × 10-10 and (4-33) × 10-10 m2/s), corresponding to the initial and final phase of the experiment, respectively. The minimum chitosan concentration required to form a spatial gel network and, accordingly, a layered anisotropic structure was estimated as 1.5 g/dL. Morphological features of the structural anisotropic ordering of chitosan Liesegang structures are visualized by scanning electron microscopy. The hemocompatibility of the material obtained was tested, and its high sorption-desorption properties were evaluated using the example of loading-release of cholecalciferol (loading degree ~35-45%, 100% desorption within 25-28 h), which was observed for a hydrophobic substance inside a chitosan-based material for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergei L. Shmakov
- Chair of Polymers, Institute of Chemistry, Saratov State University, 83 Astrakhanskaya St., 410012 Saratov, Russia (A.B.S.)
| | - Tatiana S. Babicheva
- Chair of Polymers, Institute of Chemistry, Saratov State University, 83 Astrakhanskaya St., 410012 Saratov, Russia (A.B.S.)
| | - Valentina A. Kurochkina
- Chair of Polymers, Institute of Chemistry, Saratov State University, 83 Astrakhanskaya St., 410012 Saratov, Russia (A.B.S.)
| | - Tatiana N. Lugovitskaya
- Institute of New Materials and Technologies, Ural Federal State University, 19 Mira St., 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia;
| | - Anna B. Shipovskaya
- Chair of Polymers, Institute of Chemistry, Saratov State University, 83 Astrakhanskaya St., 410012 Saratov, Russia (A.B.S.)
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Zahorán R, Kumar P, Deák Á, Lantos E, Horváth D, Tóth Á. From Balloon to Crystalline Structure in the Calcium Phosphate Flow-Driven Chemical Garden. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:5078-5083. [PMID: 36972336 PMCID: PMC10100542 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
We have studied the calcium phosphate precipitation reaction by producing chemical gardens in a controlled manner using a three-dimensional flow-driven technique. The injection of the phosphate containing solution into the calcium ion reservoir has resulted in structures varying from membranes to crystals. Dynamical phase diagrams are constructed by varying chemical composition and flow rates from which three different growth mechanisms have been revealed. The microstructural analysis by scanning electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction confirmed the morphological transition from membrane tubes to crystalline branches upon decreasing pH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Réka Zahorán
- Department
of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1, Szeged H-6720, Hungary
| | - Pawan Kumar
- Department
of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1, Szeged H-6720, Hungary
| | - Ágota Deák
- Department
of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Interdisciplinary Excellence
Centre, University of Szeged, Aradi sq. 1, Szeged 6720, Hungary
| | - Emese Lantos
- Department
of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1, Szeged H-6720, Hungary
| | - Dezső Horváth
- Department
of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1, Szeged H-6720, Hungary
| | - Ágota Tóth
- Department
of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1, Szeged H-6720, Hungary
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Klučáková M. How the Addition of Chitosan Affects the Transport and Rheological Properties of Agarose Hydrogels. Gels 2023; 9:gels9020099. [PMID: 36826269 PMCID: PMC9957402 DOI: 10.3390/gels9020099] [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: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Agarose hydrogels enriched by chitosan were studied from a point of view diffusion and the immobilization of metal ions. Copper was used as a model metal with a high affinity to chitosan. The influence of interactions between copper and chitosan on transport properties was investigated. Effective diffusion coefficients were determined and compared with values obtained from pure agarose hydrogel. Their values increased with the amount of chitosan added to agarose hydrogel and the lowest addition caused the decrease in diffusivity in comparison with hydrogel without chitosan. Liesegang patterns were observed in the hydrogels with higher contents of chitosan. The patterns were more distinct if the chitosan content increased. The formation of Liesegang patterns caused a local decrease in the concentration of copper ions and concentration profiles were affected by this phenomenon. Thus, the values of effective diffusion coefficient covered the influences of pore structure of hydrogels and the interactions between chitosan and metal ions, including precipitation on observed Liesegang rings. From the point of view of rheology, the addition of chitosan resulted in changes in storage and loss moduli, which can show on a "more liquid" character of enriched hydrogels. It can contribute to the increase in the effective diffusion coefficients for hydrogels with higher content of chitosan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Klučáková
- Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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5
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Zahorán R, Kumar P, Juhász Á, Horváth D, Tóth Á. Flow-driven synthesis of calcium phosphate-calcium alginate hybrid chemical gardens. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:8157-8164. [PMID: 36263702 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm01063a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Systems far-from-equilibrium self-assemble into spatiotemporal structures. Here, we report on the formation of calcium alginate gardens along with their inorganic hybrids when a sodium alginate solution containing sodium phosphate in various compositions is injected into a calcium chloride reservoir. The viscoelastic properties of the membranes developed are controlled by the injection rate, while their thickness by the amount of sodium phosphate besides diffusion. Inorganic hybrid membranes with constant thickness are synthesized in the presence of a sufficient amount of sodium phosphate. The electrochemical characterization of the membranes suggests that the driving force is the pH-gradient developing along the two sides; hence, the cell potential can be controlled by the addition of alkaline sodium phosphate into the sodium alginate solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Réka Zahorán
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1., Szeged, H-6720, Hungary.
| | - Pawan Kumar
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1., Szeged, H-6720, Hungary.
| | - Ádám Juhász
- MTA-SZTE Lendület "Momentum" Noble Metal Nanostructures Research Group, Interdisciplinary Excellence Center, Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1, Szeged, H-6720, Hungary
| | - Dezső Horváth
- Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1., Szeged, H-6720, Hungary
| | - Ágota Tóth
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1., Szeged, H-6720, Hungary.
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Ding Y, Gutiérrez-Ariza CM, Zheng M, Felgate A, Lawes A, Sainz-Díaz CI, Cartwright JHE, Cardoso SSS. Downward fingering accompanies upward tube growth in a chemical garden grown in a vertical confined geometry. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:17841-17851. [PMID: 35851594 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp01862d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Chemical gardens are self-assembled structures of mineral precipitates enabled by semi-permeable membranes. To explore the effects of gravity on the formation of chemical gardens, we have studied chemical gardens grown from cobalt chloride pellets and aqueous sodium silicate solution in a vertical Hele-Shaw cell. Through photography, we have observed and quantitatively analysed upward growing tubes and downward growing fingers. The latter were not seen in previous experimental studies involving similar physicochemical systems in 3-dimensional or horizontal confined geometry. To better understand the results, further studies of flow patterns, buoyancy forces, and growth dynamics under schlieren optics have been carried out, together with characterisation of the precipitates with scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. In addition to an ascending flow and the resulting precipitation of tubular filaments, a previously not reported descending flow has been observed which, under some conditions, is accompanied by precipitation of solid fingering structures. We conclude that the physics of both the ascending and descending flows are shaped by buoyancy, together with osmosis and chemical reaction. The existence of the descending flow might highlight a limitation in current experimental methods for growing chemical gardens under gravity, where seeds are typically not suspended in the middle of the solution and are confined by the bottom of the vessel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Ding
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, West Cambridge Site, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK.
| | - Carlos M Gutiérrez-Ariza
- Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad de Granada, Avenida de las Palmeras, 4, E-18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain.
| | - Mingchuan Zheng
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, West Cambridge Site, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK.
| | - Amy Felgate
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, West Cambridge Site, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK.
| | - Anna Lawes
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, West Cambridge Site, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK.
| | - C Ignacio Sainz-Díaz
- Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad de Granada, Avenida de las Palmeras, 4, E-18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain.
| | - Julyan H E Cartwright
- Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad de Granada, Avenida de las Palmeras, 4, E-18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain. .,Instituto Carlos I de Física Teórica y Computacional, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Avenida de Fuente Nueva, s/n, E-18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Silvana S S Cardoso
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, West Cambridge Site, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK.
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Kumar P, Horváth D, Tóth Á. Sol-gel transition programmed self-propulsion of chitosan hydrogel. CHAOS (WOODBURY, N.Y.) 2022; 32:063120. [PMID: 35778152 DOI: 10.1063/5.0097035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Active soft materials exhibit various dynamics ranging from boat pulsation to thin membrane deformation. In the present work, in situ prepared ethanol-containing chitosan gels propel in continuous and intermittent motion. The active life of the organic material loaded to the constant fuel level follows a linear scaling, and its maximal velocity and projection area decrease steeply with chitosan concentration. A thin propelling platelet forms at low polymer content, leading to the suppression of intermittent motion. Moreover, the fast accelerating thin gels can split into a crescent and circular-like shape or fission into multiple asymmetric fragments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawan Kumar
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1, Szeged H-6720, Hungary
| | - Dezső Horváth
- Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1, Szeged H-6720, Hungary
| | - Ágota Tóth
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1, Szeged H-6720, Hungary
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Hajdu C, Kumar P, Horváth D, Tóth Á. Pattern selection of directionally oriented chitosan tubes. J Chem Phys 2022; 156:134902. [PMID: 35395898 DOI: 10.1063/5.0087961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The growth of viscoelastic curved materials, inspired by biological systems, may give rise to various complex structures. One of the simplest ways to control the pattern formation is to vary the orientation of the reaction vessel while keeping all other experimental conditions constant. Here, we report the self-organization of soft chitosan tubes by injecting acidic chitosan sol into a pool of sodium hydroxide solution, where the adhesive force between the gel and container keeps the tubules on the bottom of the reactor. The horizontal growth of the tubular structure undergoes spontaneous symmetry breaking, where instabilities develop on the surface of the chitosan tubules. Transformation of folds into wrinkles and finally to a smooth tube takes place by varying the orientation of the container. In addition to characterizing the evolving structures, we have also shown that the linear growth rate of the tube scales with the tilt angle of the container from the horizontal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cintia Hajdu
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1., Szeged H-6720, Hungary
| | - Pawan Kumar
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1., Szeged H-6720, Hungary
| | - Dezső Horváth
- Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1., Szeged H-6720, Hungary
| | - Ágota Tóth
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1., Szeged H-6720, Hungary
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