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Ginesi RE, Draper ER. Methods of changing low molecular weight gel properties through gelation kinetics. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:3887-3896. [PMID: 38691131 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00238e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Low molecular weight gels continue to attract notable interest, with many potential applications. However, there are still significant gaps in our understanding of these systems and the correlation between the pre-gel and final gel states. The kinetics of the gelation process plays a crucial role in the bulk properties of the hydrogel and presents an opportunity to fine-tune these systems to meet the requirements of the chosen application. Therefore, it is possible to use a single gelator for multiple applications. This review discusses four ways to modify the pre-gelled structures before triggering gelation. Such modifications can enhance the material's intended performance, which may result in significant advancements in high-tech areas, such as drug delivery, cell culturing, electronics, and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E Ginesi
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK, G12 8QQ, UK.
| | - Emily R Draper
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK, G12 8QQ, UK.
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2
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Salter LC, Wojciechowski JP, McLean B, Charchar P, Barnes PRF, Creamer A, Doutch J, Barriga HMG, Holme MN, Yarovsky I, Stevens MM. 3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene Hydrogels: Relating Structure and Charge Transport in Supramolecular Gels. CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS : A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 2024; 36:3092-3106. [PMID: 38617802 PMCID: PMC11007859 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.3c01360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Ionic charge transport is a ubiquitous language of communication in biological systems. As such, bioengineering is in constant need of innovative, soft, and biocompatible materials that facilitate ionic conduction. Low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs) are complex self-assembled materials that have received increasing attention in recent years. Beyond their biocompatible, self-healing, and stimuli responsive facets, LMWGs can be viewed as a "solid" electrolyte solution. In this work, we investigate 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) as a capping group for a small peptide library, which we use as a system to understand the relationship between modes of assembly and charge transport in supramolecular gels. Through a combination of techniques including small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), NMR-based Van't Hoff analysis, atomic force microscopy (AFM), rheology, four-point probe, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), we found that modifications to the peptide sequence result in distinct assembly pathways, thermodynamic parameters, mechanical properties, and ionic conductivities. Four-point probe conductivity measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy suggest that ionic conductivity is approximately doubled by programmable gel assemblies with hollow cylinder morphologies relative to gels containing solid fibers or a control electrolyte. More broadly, it is hoped this work will serve as a platform for those working on charge transport of aqueous soft materials in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke C.
B. Salter
- Department
of Materials and Department of Bioengineering, Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan P. Wojciechowski
- Department
of Materials and Department of Bioengineering, Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Ben McLean
- School
of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
- ARC
Research Hub for Australian Steel Innovation, https://www.rmit.edu.au/research/centres-collaborations/multi-partner-collaborations/arc-research-hub-aus-steel-manufacturing
| | - Patrick Charchar
- School
of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Piers R. F. Barnes
- Department
of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United
Kingdom
| | - Adam Creamer
- Department
of Materials and Department of Bioengineering, Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - James Doutch
- ISIS
Muon and Neutron Source, Rutherford Appleton
Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Hanna M. G. Barriga
- Department
of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Margaret N. Holme
- Department
of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Irene Yarovsky
- School
of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Molly M. Stevens
- Department
of Materials and Department of Bioengineering, Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
- Department
of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department
of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Department of Engineering Science,
and Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, OX1
3QU, Oxford, United Kingdom
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3
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Smith DK. Supramolecular gels - a panorama of low-molecular-weight gelators from ancient origins to next-generation technologies. SOFT MATTER 2023; 20:10-70. [PMID: 38073497 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01301d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Supramolecular gels, self-assembled from low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs), have a long history and a bright future. This review provides an overview of these materials, from their use in lubrication and personal care in the ancient world, through to next-generation technologies. In academic terms, colloid scientists in the 19th and early 20th centuries first understood such gels as being physically assembled as a result of weak interactions, combining a solid-like network having a degree of crystalline order with a highly mobile liquid-like phase. During the 20th century, industrial scientists began using these materials in new applications in the polymer, oil and food industries. The advent of supramolecular chemistry in the late 20th century, with its focus on non-covalent interactions and controlled self-assembly, saw the horizons for these materials shifted significantly beyond their historic rheological applications, expanding their potential. The ability to tune the LMWG chemical structure, manipulate hierarchical assembly, develop multi-component systems, and introduce new types of responsive and interactive behaviour, has been transformative. Furthermore, the dynamics of these materials are increasingly understood, creating metastable gels and transiently-fueled systems. New approaches to shaping and patterning gels are providing a unique opportunity for more sophisticated uses. These supramolecular advances are increasingly underpinning and informing next-generation applications - from drug delivery and regenerative medicine to environmental remediation and sustainable energy. In summary, this article presents a panorama over the field of supramolecular gels, emphasising how both academic and industrial scientists are building on the past, and engaging new fundamental insights and innovative concepts to open up exciting horizons for their future use.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K Smith
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
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Pele KG, Amaveda H, Mora M, Marcuello C, Lostao A, Alamán-Díez P, Pérez-Huertas S, Ángeles Pérez M, García-Aznar JM, García-Gareta E. Hydrocolloids of Egg White and Gelatin as a Platform for Hydrogel-Based Tissue Engineering. Gels 2023; 9:505. [PMID: 37367175 DOI: 10.3390/gels9060505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Innovative materials are needed to produce scaffolds for various tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) applications, including tissue models. Materials derived from natural sources that offer low production costs, easy availability, and high bioactivity are highly preferred. Chicken egg white (EW) is an overlooked protein-based material. Whilst its combination with the biopolymer gelatin has been investigated in the food technology industry, mixed hydrocolloids of EW and gelatin have not been reported in TERM. This paper investigates these hydrocolloids as a suitable platform for hydrogel-based tissue engineering, including 2D coating films, miniaturized 3D hydrogels in microfluidic devices, and 3D hydrogel scaffolds. Rheological assessment of the hydrocolloid solutions suggested that temperature and EW concentration can be used to fine-tune the viscosity of the ensuing gels. Fabricated thin 2D hydrocolloid films presented globular nano-topography and in vitro cell work showed that the mixed hydrocolloids had increased cell growth compared with EW films. Results showed that hydrocolloids of EW and gelatin can be used for creating a 3D hydrogel environment for cell studies inside microfluidic devices. Finally, 3D hydrogel scaffolds were fabricated by sequential temperature-dependent gelation followed by chemical cross-linking of the polymeric network of the hydrogel for added mechanical strength and stability. These 3D hydrogel scaffolds displayed pores, lamellae, globular nano-topography, tunable mechanical properties, high affinity for water, and cell proliferation and penetration properties. In conclusion, the large range of properties and characteristics of these materials provide a strong potential for a large variety of TERM applications, including cancer models, organoid growth, compatibility with bioprinting, or implantable devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karinna Georgiana Pele
- Multiscale in Mechanical & Biological Engineering Research Group, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), School of Engineering & Architecture, University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
| | - Hippolyte Amaveda
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC and University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
| | - Mario Mora
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC and University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
| | - Carlos Marcuello
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC and University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
- Laboratorio de Microscopías Avanzadas (LMA), University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
| | - Anabel Lostao
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC and University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
- Laboratorio de Microscopías Avanzadas (LMA), University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
- Fundación ARAID, 50018 Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
| | - Pilar Alamán-Díez
- Multiscale in Mechanical & Biological Engineering Research Group, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), School of Engineering & Architecture, University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
| | - Salvador Pérez-Huertas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Andalusia, Spain
| | - María Ángeles Pérez
- Multiscale in Mechanical & Biological Engineering Research Group, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), School of Engineering & Architecture, University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
- Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Miguel Servet University Hospital, 50009 Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
| | - José Manuel García-Aznar
- Multiscale in Mechanical & Biological Engineering Research Group, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), School of Engineering & Architecture, University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
- Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Miguel Servet University Hospital, 50009 Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
| | - Elena García-Gareta
- Multiscale in Mechanical & Biological Engineering Research Group, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), School of Engineering & Architecture, University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
- Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Miguel Servet University Hospital, 50009 Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
- Division of Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London NW3 2PF, UK
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Budai L, Budai M, Fülöpné Pápay ZE, Vilimi Z, Antal I. Rheological Considerations of Pharmaceutical Formulations: Focus on Viscoelasticity. Gels 2023; 9:469. [PMID: 37367140 DOI: 10.3390/gels9060469] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Controlling rheological properties offers the opportunity to gain insight into the physical characteristics, structure, stability and drug release rate of formulations. To better understand the physical properties of hydrogels, not only rotational but also oscillatory experiments should be performed. Viscoelastic properties, including elastic and viscous properties, are measured using oscillatory rheology. The gel strength and elasticity of hydrogels are of great importance for pharmaceutical development as the application of viscoelastic preparations has considerably expanded in recent decades. Viscosupplementation, ophthalmic surgery and tissue engineering are just a few examples from the wide range of possible applications of viscoelastic hydrogels. Hyaluronic acid, alginate, gellan gum, pectin and chitosan are remarkable representatives of gelling agents that attract great attention applied in biomedical fields. This review provides a brief summary of rheological properties, highlighting the viscoelasticity of hydrogels with great potential in biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lívia Budai
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Semmelweis University, 1092 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Marianna Budai
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Semmelweis University, 1092 Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Zsófia Vilimi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Semmelweis University, 1092 Budapest, Hungary
| | - István Antal
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Semmelweis University, 1092 Budapest, Hungary
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Abstract
We investigate the rheological behavior of aqueous solutions containing animal gelatin, sugars and polyols. The aim is to study how the gelation kinetics, transition temperatures and gel strengths of an aqueous gelatin solution can be affected by the progressive addition of co-solutes. Aqueous solutions with a fixed mass percentage of gelatin of 6.8 wt% were prepared at various concentrations of sugars and polyols. Through Dynamic Temperature Ramp tests, performed at various ramp rates, and Dynamic Time Sweep and Dynamic Frequency Sweep tests, carried out at different temperatures, it was possible both to evaluate the transition temperatures and to monitor the gelation kinetics of the samples. It was found that the contribution of co-solutes positively affects both the gelation process and the thermal stability of the aqueous gelatin solution by reducing the gelation time and improving the mechanical properties of the gel in terms of network elasticity.
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