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Mikhailidi A, Ungureanu E, Tofanica BM, Ungureanu OC, Fortună ME, Belosinschi D, Volf I. Agriculture 4.0: Polymer Hydrogels as Delivery Agents of Active Ingredients. Gels 2024; 10:368. [PMID: 38920915 PMCID: PMC11203096 DOI: 10.3390/gels10060368] [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: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The evolution from conventional to modern agricultural practices, characterized by Agriculture 4.0 principles such as the application of innovative materials, smart water, and nutrition management, addresses the present-day challenges of food supply. In this context, polymer hydrogels have become a promising material for enhancing agricultural productivity due to their ability to retain and then release water, which can help alleviate the need for frequent irrigation in dryland environments. Furthermore, the controlled release of fertilizers by the hydrogels decreases chemical overdosing risks and the environmental impact associated with the use of agrochemicals. The potential of polymer hydrogels in sustainable agriculture and farming and their impact on soil quality is revealed by their ability to deliver nutritional and protective active ingredients. Thus, the impact of hydrogels on plant growth, development, and yield was discussed. The question of which hydrogels are more suitable for agriculture-natural or synthetic-is debatable, as both have their merits and drawbacks. An analysis of polymer hydrogel life cycles in terms of their initial material has shown the advantage of bio-based hydrogels, such as cellulose, lignin, starch, alginate, chitosan, and their derivatives and hybrids, aligning with sustainable practices and reducing dependence on non-renewable resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Mikhailidi
- Higher School of Printing and Media Technologies, St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design, 18 Bolshaya Morskaya Street, 191186 St. Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Elena Ungureanu
- “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences Iasi, 3 Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700490 Iasi, Romania
| | - Bogdan-Marian Tofanica
- “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 73 Prof. Dr. Docent D. Mangeron Boulevard, 700050 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Ovidiu C. Ungureanu
- Faculty of Medicine, “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad, 94 the Boulevard of the Revolution, 310025 Arad, Romania;
| | - Maria E. Fortună
- “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Dan Belosinschi
- Innovations Institute in Ecomaterials, Ecoproducts, and Ecoenergies, University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières, 3351, Boul. des Forges, Trois-Rivières QC G8Z 4M3, Canada;
| | - Irina Volf
- “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 73 Prof. Dr. Docent D. Mangeron Boulevard, 700050 Iasi, Romania;
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Grigoras AG. Investigation of Cellulose-Based Materials Applied in Life Sciences Using Laser Light Scattering Methods. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1170. [PMID: 38675089 PMCID: PMC11054383 DOI: 10.3390/polym16081170] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This review emphasizes the practical importance of laser light scattering methods for characterizing cellulose and its derivatives. The physicochemical parameters like molecular weights, the radius of gyration, hydrodynamic radius, and conformation will be considered when the reproducibility of polymer behavior in solution is necessary for the subsequent optimization of the property profile of a designed product. Since there are various sources of cellulose, and the methods of cellulose extraction and chemical modification have variable yields, materials with variable molecular weights, and size polydispersity will often result. Later, the molecular masses will influence other physicochemical properties of cellulosic materials, both in solution and solid state. Consequently, the most rigorous determination of these quantities is imperative. In this regard, the following are presented and discussed in this review: the theoretical foundations of the light scattering phenomenon, the evolution of the specific instrumentation and detectors, the development of the detector-coupling techniques which include a light scattering detector, and finally, the importance of the specific parameters of polymers in solution, resulting from the data analysis of light scattering signals. All these aspects are summarized according to the chemical classification of the materials: celluloses, esters of cellulose, co-esters of cellulose, alkyl esters of cellulose, ethers of cellulose, and other heterogeneous cellulose derivatives with applications in life sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca-Giorgiana Grigoras
- "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 41A, 700487 Iasi, Romania
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Munjal R, Kyarikwal R, Sarkar S, Nag P, Vennapusa SR, Mukhopadhyay S. A Siderophore Mimicking Gelation Component for Capturing and Self-Separation of Fe(III) from an Aqueous Solution of Mixture of Metal Ions. Inorg Chem 2024; 63:7089-7103. [PMID: 38573755 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c01177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The carbohydrazide-based gelation component N2,N4,N6-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)tris(benzene-1,3,5-tricarbohydrazide) (CBTC) was synthesized and characterized using various spectroscopic tools. CBTC and trimesic acid (TMA) get self-assembled to form metallogel with Fe3+, specifically through various noncovalent interactions in a DMSO and H2O mixture. The self-assembly shows remarkable specificity toward Fe(III) among different transition metal salts. It is pertinent to point out that the binding specificity for Fe3+ can also be found in nature in the form of siderophores, as they are mainly involved in scavenging iron selectively from the surroundings. DFT studies have been used to investigate the possible interaction between the different components of the iron metallogel. To determine the selectivity of CBTC for iron, CBTC, along with trimesic acid, is used to interact with other metal ions, including Fe(III) ions, in a single system. The gelation components CBTC and TMA selectively bind with iron(III), which leads to the formation of metallogel and gets separated as a discrete layer, leaving the other metal ions in the solution. Therefore, CBTC and TMA together show iron-scavenging properties. This selective scavenging property is explored through FE-SEM, XPS, PXRD, IR, and ICP-AES analysis. The FE-SEM analysis shows a flower-petal-like morphology for the Fe(III) metallogel. The resemblance in the CBTC-TMA-Fe metallogel and metallogel obtained from the mixture of different metal salts is established through FE-SEM images and XPS analysis. The release of iron from the metallogel is achieved with the help of ascorbic acid, which converts Fe3+ to Fe2+. In biological systems, iron also gets released similarly from siderophores. This is the first report where the synthesized gelation component CBTC molecule is capable of scavenging out iron in the form of metallogel and self-separating from the aqueous mixture in the presence of various other metal ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritika Munjal
- Department of Chemistry, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Khandwa road, Simrol, Indore 453552, India
| | - Reena Kyarikwal
- Department of Chemistry, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Khandwa road, Simrol, Indore 453552, India
| | - Sayantan Sarkar
- Department of Chemistry, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Khandwa road, Simrol, Indore 453552, India
| | - Probal Nag
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram 695551, India
| | - Sivaranjana Reddy Vennapusa
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram 695551, India
| | - Suman Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Chemistry, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Khandwa road, Simrol, Indore 453552, India
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Dueramae I, Tanaka F, Shinyashiki N, Yagihara S, Kita R. UV-Crosslinked Poly( N-isopropylacrylamide) Interpenetrated into Chitosan Structure with Enhancement of Mechanical Properties Implemented as Anti-Fouling Materials. Gels 2023; 10:20. [PMID: 38247743 PMCID: PMC10815207 DOI: 10.3390/gels10010020] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
High-performance properties of interpenetration polymer network (IPN) hydrogels, based on physically crosslinked chitosan (CS) and chemically crosslinked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAM), were successfully developed. The IPN of CS/PNiPAM is proposed to overcome the limited mechanical properties of the single CS network. In this study, the viscoelastic behaviors of prepared materials in both solution and gel states were extensively examined, considering the UV exposure time and crosslinker concentration as key factors. The effect of these factors on gel formation, hydrogel structures, thermal stabilities of networks, and HeLa cell adhesion were studied sequentially. The sol-gel transition was effectively demonstrated through the scaling law, which agrees well with Winter and Chambon's theory. By subjecting the CS hydrogel to the process operation in an ethanol solution, its properties can be significantly enhanced with increased crosslinker concentration, including the shear modulus, crosslinking degree, gel strength, and thermal stability in its swollen state. The IPN samples exhibit a smooth and dense surface with irregular pores, allowing for much water absorption. The HeLa cells were adhered to and killed using the CS surface cationic charges and then released through hydrolysis by utilizing the hydrophilic/hydrophobic switchable property or thermo-reversible gelation of the PNiPAM network. The results demonstrated that IPN is a highly attractive candidate for anti-fouling materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isala Dueramae
- Micro/Nano Technology Center, Tokai University, Hiratsuka 259-1292, Japan
- Metallurgy and Materials Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Fumihiko Tanaka
- Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan;
| | - Naoki Shinyashiki
- Micro/Nano Technology Center, Tokai University, Hiratsuka 259-1292, Japan
- Department of Physics, Tokai University, Hiratsuka 259-1292, Japan;
| | - Shin Yagihara
- Department of Physics, Tokai University, Hiratsuka 259-1292, Japan;
| | - Rio Kita
- Micro/Nano Technology Center, Tokai University, Hiratsuka 259-1292, Japan
- Department of Physics, Tokai University, Hiratsuka 259-1292, Japan;
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Mikhailidi A, Ungureanu E, Belosinschi D, Tofanica BM, Volf I. Cellulose-Based Metallogels-Part 3: Multifunctional Materials. Gels 2023; 9:878. [PMID: 37998968 PMCID: PMC10671087 DOI: 10.3390/gels9110878] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The incorporation of the metal phase into cellulose hydrogels, resulting in the formation of metallogels, greatly expands their application potential by introducing new functionalities and improving their performance in various fields. The unique antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer properties of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles (Ag, Au, Cu, CuxOy, ZnO, Al2O3, TiO2, etc.), coupled with the biocompatibility of cellulose, allow the development of composite hydrogels with multifunctional therapeutic potential. These materials can serve as efficient carriers for controlled drug delivery, targeting specific cells or pathogens, as well as for the design of artificial tissues or wound and burn dressings. Cellulose-based metallogels can be used in the food packaging industry to provide biodegradable and biocidal materials to extend the shelf life of the goods. Metal and bimetallic nanoparticles (Au, Cu, Ni, AuAg, and AuPt) can catalyze chemical reactions, enabling composite cellulose hydrogels to be used as efficient catalysts in organic synthesis. In addition, metal-loaded hydrogels (with ZnO, TiO2, Ag, and Fe3O4 nanoparticles) can exhibit enhanced adsorption capacities for pollutants, such as dyes, heavy metal ions, and pharmaceuticals, making them valuable materials for water purification and environmental remediation. Magnetic properties imparted to metallogels by iron oxides (Fe2O3 and Fe3O4) simplify the wastewater treatment process, making it more cost-effective and environmentally friendly. The conductivity of metallogels due to Ag, TiO2, ZnO, and Al2O3 is useful for the design of various sensors. The integration of metal nanoparticles also allows the development of responsive materials, where changes in metal properties can be exploited for stimuli-responsive applications, such as controlled release systems. Overall, the introduction of metal phases augments the functionality of cellulose hydrogels, expanding their versatility for diverse applications across a broad spectrum of industries not envisaged during the initial research stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Mikhailidi
- Higher School of Printing and Media Technologies, St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design, 18 Bolshaya Morskaya Street, 191186 St. Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Elena Ungureanu
- “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Life Sciences Iasi, 3 Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700490 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Dan Belosinschi
- Innovations Institute in Ecomaterials, Ecoproducts, and Ecoenergies, University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières, 3351, Boul. des Forges, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada;
- CellON AS, Lakkegata 75C, NO-0562 Oslo, Norway
| | - Bogdan-Marian Tofanica
- “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 73 Prof. Dr. Docent D. Mangeron Boulevard, 700050 Iasi, Romania
- IF2000 Academic Foundation, 73 Prof. Dr. Docent D. Mangeron Boulevard, 700050 Iasi, Romania
| | - Irina Volf
- “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 73 Prof. Dr. Docent D. Mangeron Boulevard, 700050 Iasi, Romania
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