scholarly journals Anisotropic magnetic hydrogels: design, structure and mechanical properties

Author(s):  
Cristina Gila-Vilchez ◽  
Mari C. Mañas-Torres ◽  
Rafael Contreras-Montoya ◽  
Miguel Alaminos ◽  
Juan D. G. Duran ◽  
...  

Anisotropy is an intrinsic feature of most of the human tissues (e.g. muscle, skin or cartilage). Because of this, there has been an intense effort in the search of methods for the induction of permanent anisotropy in hydrogels intended for biomedical applications. The dispersion of magnetic particles or beads in the hydrogel precursor solution prior to cross-linking, in combination with applied magnetic fields, which gives rise to columnar structures, is one of the most recently proposed approaches for this goal. We have gone even further and, in this paper, we show that it is possible to use magnetic particles as actuators for the alignment of the polymer chains in order to obtain anisotropic hydrogels. Furthermore, we characterize the microstructural arrangement and mechanical properties of the resulting hydrogels. This article is part of a theme issue ‘Heterogeneous materials: metastable and non-ergodic internal structures’.

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1510
Author(s):  
Sylwia Grabska-Zielińska ◽  
Alina Sionkowska

This review supplies a report on fresh advances in the field of silk fibroin (SF) biopolymer and its blends with biopolymers as new biomaterials. The review also includes a subsection about silk fibroin mixtures with synthetic polymers. Silk fibroin is commonly used to receive biomaterials. However, the materials based on pure polymer present low mechanical parameters, and high enzymatic degradation rate. These properties can be problematic for tissue engineering applications. An increased interest in two- and three-component mixtures and chemically cross-linked materials has been observed due to their improved physico-chemical properties. These materials can be attractive and desirable for both academic, and, industrial attention because they expose improvements in properties required in the biomedical field. The structure, forms, methods of preparation, and some physico-chemical properties of silk fibroin are discussed in this review. Detailed examples are also given from scientific reports and practical experiments. The most common biopolymers: collagen (Coll), chitosan (CTS), alginate (AL), and hyaluronic acid (HA) are discussed as components of silk fibroin-based mixtures. Examples of binary and ternary mixtures, composites with the addition of magnetic particles, hydroxyapatite or titanium dioxide are also included and given. Additionally, the advantages and disadvantages of chemical, physical, and enzymatic cross-linking were demonstrated.


Author(s):  
Mariem M. Abrougui ◽  
Modesto T. Lopez-Lopez ◽  
Juan D. G. Duran

Magnetic gels (ferrogels) are heterogeneous systems structured at the nanoscale that contains magnetic particles dispersed in three-dimensional networks of polymer chains. In the present work, the magnetic particles were synthesized with a core–shell structure, consisting of sepiolite particles covered by magnetite nanoparticles. These composite particles had a rod-like shape with a high aspect ratio. The obtained sepiolite–magnetite particles showed a high enough susceptibility and saturation magnetization. The magneto-rheological (MR) properties, and the intensity of the MR effect, of aqueous suspensions of the synthesized particles were studied. The particles, functionalized by adsorption of alginate molecules, were imbedded in alginate hydrogels to get homogeneous soft materials. The particles were linked to the polymer chains as the knots in a network and dominated in a great extent the mechanical properties of the materials. After determining the optimal compositions of the ferrogels, their viscoelastic properties were measured in the absence/presence of magnetic fields. The results pointed out that the MR effect provided by the clay–magnetite particles was considerably more intense than those achieved in ferrogels that contain spherical magnetic microparticles. Therefore, the imbedding of rod-shaped magnetic particles in hydrogels allows controlling the mechanical properties in a wider range than in conventional ferrogels. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Heterogeneous materials: metastable and non-ergodic internal structures’.


Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Oh Jeong ◽  
Jong-Seok Park ◽  
Young-Ah Kim ◽  
Su-Jin Yang ◽  
Sung-In Jeong ◽  
...  

Conducting polymer (CP)-based hydrogels exhibit the behaviors of bending or contraction/relaxation due to electrical stimulation. They are similar in some ways to biological organs and have advantages regarding manipulation and miniaturization. Thus, these hydrogels have attracted considerable interest for biomedical applications. In this study, we prepared PPy/PVP hydrogel with different concentrations and content through polymerization and cross-linking induced by gamma-ray irradiation at 25 kGy to optimize the mechanical properties of the resulting PPy/PVP hydrogel. Optimization of the PPy/PVP hydrogel was confirmed by characterization using scanning electron microscopy, gel fraction, swelling ratio, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In addition, we assessed live-cell viability using live/dead assay and CCK-8 assay, and found good cell viability regardless of the concentration and content of Py/pTS. The conductivity of PPy/PVP hydrogel was at least 13 mS/cm. The mechanical properties of PPy/PVP hydrogel are important factors in their application for biomaterials. It was found that 0.15PPy/PVP20 (51.96 ± 6.12 kPa) exhibited better compressive strength than the other samples for use in CP-based hydrogels. Therefore, it was concluded that gamma rays can be used to optimize PPy/PVP hydrogel and that biomedical applications of CP-based hydrogels will be possible.


2012 ◽  
Vol 1384 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Maranesi ◽  
L. Pasquini ◽  
M. Khadhraoui ◽  
P. Knauth ◽  
M.L. Di Vona

AbstractThermal stability, hydration and mechanical properties of thermally cross-linked Sulfonated Aromatic Polymers (SAP) with high ionic exchange capacity (IEC) were measured and compared to untreated samples. The formation of cross-linking greatly stabilizes SAP in terms of thermal, mechanical, and hydrolytic degradation: they can resist in water even at a temperature of 145 °C with improved mechanical properties. Acid-base titration and FTIR spectra consistently indicate that SAP microstructure stabilization is related to cross-linking of the polymer chains by SO2 bridges, which is promoted by temperature.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eltjani-Eltahir Hago ◽  
Xinsong Li

In this work, a new approach was introduced to prepare interpenetrating polymer network PVA/GE hydrogels by cross-linking of various concentration gelatin in the presence of transglutaminase enzyme by using the freezing-thawing cycles technique. The effects of freezing-thawing cycles on the properties of morphological characterization, gel fraction, swelling, mechanical, and MTT assay were investigated. The IPN PVA/GE hydrogels showed excellent physical and mechanical Properties. MTT assay data and the fibroblasts culture also showed excellent biocompatibility and good proliferation. This indicates that the IPN hydrogels are stable enough for various biomedical applications.


2012 ◽  
Vol 706-709 ◽  
pp. 595-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alina Sionkowska

Collagen-based materials were prepared and their properties were studied. The shape of collagen materials was as follows: thin films, hydrogels, and sponges. Microstructure and mechanical properties of films and sponges were studied. The effect of cross-linking agents and the effect of synthetic polymer on the properties of collagen materials were studied and analyzed. Collagen-based materials can be considered as potential biomaterials in tissue engineering.


2016 ◽  
Vol 368 ◽  
pp. 138-141
Author(s):  
Martin Ovsík ◽  
Vojtech Šenkeřík ◽  
David Manas ◽  
Miroslav Maňas ◽  
Michal Stanek ◽  
...  

Cross-linking is a process in which polymer chains are associated through chemical bonds. Radiation, which penetrated through specimens and reacted with the cross-linking agent, gradually formed cross-linking (3D net), first in the surface layer and then in the total volume, which resulted in considerable changes in specimen behaviour. The aim of the experiments was to study the influence of different doses of Beta radiation to the structure and micro-mechanical properties of polypropylene filled by 30% glass fiber (PP+GF). Hard surface layers of PP+GF can be formed by radiation cross-linking by β – radiation with doses of 33, 66 and 99 kGy. Material properties created by β – radiation are measured by micro-indentation test using the DSI method (Depth Sensing Indentation). Individual radiation doses caused structural and micro-mechanical changes which have a significant effect on the final properties of the PP+GF tested. Micro-mechanical properties increased with increasing value of the dose of irradiation material (increase about 49%). The changes were examined and confirmed by X-ray diffraction.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1120-1121 ◽  
pp. 1179-1182
Author(s):  
Martin Ovsik ◽  
David Manas ◽  
Miroslav Manas ◽  
Michal Stanek ◽  
Adam Skrobak ◽  
...  

Cross-linking is a process in which polymer chains are associated through chemical bonds. This research paper deals with the possible utilization of irradiated polyamide. Influence of the intensity of irradiation on micro-indentation hardness was investigated. Material properties created by β – radiation are measured by micro-indentation test using the DSI method (Depth Sensing Indentation). Hardness increased with increasing dose of irradiation at everything samples; however results of micro-indentation test shows increasing in micro-mechanical properties of surface layer. The highest values of micro-mechanical properties were reached radiation dose of 99 kGy, when the micro-mechanical values increased by about 18%.


2018 ◽  
Vol 919 ◽  
pp. 111-119
Author(s):  
Martin Ovsik ◽  
Michal Stanek ◽  
Vojtech Senkerik

Cross-linking is a process in which polymer chains are associated through chemical bonds. Radiation, which penetrated through specimens and reacted with the cross-linking agent, gradually formed cross-linking (3D net), first in the surface layer and then in the total volume, which resulted in considerable changes in specimen behavior. This paper studies the effect of different doses of ionizing beta radiation on the micro-mechanical properties of commercially available polyamide. The measured results indicate, that electron beam irradiation is very effective tool for improvement of surface properties of PA6. In terms of micro-mechanical properties, the values of micro-hardness of surface layer increased by 24% at radiation dose of 132 kGy, stiffness of surface micro layer by 26% (132 kGy) as a result of different loads (0.5N and 2N). Improvement of micro-mechanical properties of radiated polyamide has a great significance also for industry. The modified polyamide shifts to the group of materials that have considerably better properties. Its micro-mechanical properties make polyamide ideal for a wide application in areas where higher resistance to wear, creep are required. Commonly manufactured PA6 can hardly fulfil these criteria.


2015 ◽  
Vol 662 ◽  
pp. 189-192
Author(s):  
Martin Ovsik ◽  
Petr Kratky ◽  
David Manas ◽  
Miroslav Manas ◽  
Michal Stanek ◽  
...  

Cross-linking is a process in which polymer chains are associated through chemical bonds. The cross-linking level can be adjusted by the irradiation dosage and often by means of a cross-linking booster. The polymer additional cross-linking influences the surface nanoand micro layers in the way comparable to metals during the thermal and chemical-thermal treatments. The aim of this paper is to study the effect of ionizing radiation with different doses (33, 66 and 99 kGy), on micro-mechanical properties of polyethylene (HDPE) and compare these results with those of non-irradiated samples. Influence of the cross-linking by β – radiation of the tested HDPE on micro-indentation test and morphology was investigated. Micro-mechanical properties increased with increasing value of the dose of irradiation material. The changes were examined and confirmed by X-ray diffraction.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document