Chitosan/chondroitin sulfate aerogels with high polymeric electroneutralization degree: formation and mechanical properties

2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 901-911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra L. Orellana ◽  
Annesi Giacaman ◽  
Alejandra Vidal ◽  
Carlos Morales ◽  
Felipe Oyarzun-Ampuero ◽  
...  

Abstract The formation of ultralight, highly porous solid materials (porosity higher than 99%) containing equivalent molar amounts of chitosan (CS) and chondroitin sulfate (ChS) is presented. First, we show protocols to produce colloidal suspensions of assembled polymer nanocomplexes by simultaneously mixing equimolar amounts of the oppositely charged polysaccharides, preventing macroprecipitation. The colloidal suspensions were then freeze-dried to form the active aerogels. Apparent density in the order of 100–101 mg/cm3 was achieved. The materials show low stiffness (Young’s modulus of about 2 kPa), which make them easy to handle for clinical applications, and easy to compress, pack, store and transport. These characteristics promote them as cheap, safe and biodegradable materials able to be used for several therapeutic purposes, such as wound healing.

MRS Advances ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (40) ◽  
pp. 2359-2364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaoxing Zhang ◽  
Jiajia Lin ◽  
Huinan Liu

ABSTRACTMagnesium (Mg)-based biomaterials have attracted increasing attention in biomedical applications, such as orthopaedic, cardiovascular, urological, and neural applications because of the biocompatibility, biodegradability, antibacterial properties, and excellent mechanical properties. However, rapid degradation of Mg is the major concern for many clinical applications. Alloying Mg with other elements and engineering proper surfaces are the two approaches to control the degradation of Mg-based biomaterials. Our lab has investigated several classes of Mg-based biodegradable alloys and various surface treatment methods for medical implant and device applications. This mini-review highlights key research progress on Mg-based biomaterials and suggests future directions for Mg-based biomaterials.


MRS Advances ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 61-66
Author(s):  
Cristiano F. Woellner ◽  
Peter S. Owuor ◽  
Tong Li ◽  
Soumya Vinod ◽  
Sehmus Ozden ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTLow-density, highly porous graphene/graphene oxide (GO) based-foams have shown high performance in energy absorption applications, even under high compressive deformations. In general, foams are very effective as energy dissipative materials and have been widely used in many areas such as automotive, aerospace and biomedical industries. In the case of graphene-based foams, the good mechanical properties are mainly attributed to the intrinsic graphene and/or GO electronic and mechanical properties. Despite the attractive physical properties of graphene/GO based-foams, their structural and thermal stabilities are still a problem for some applications. For instance, they are easily degraded when placed in flowing solutions, either by the collapsing of their layers or just by structural disintegration into small pieces. Recently, a new and scalable synthetic approach to produce low-density 3D macroscopic GO structure interconnected with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymeric chains (pGO) was proposed. A controlled amount of PDMS is infused into the freeze-dried foam resulting into a very rigid structure with improved mechanical properties, such as tensile plasticity and toughness. The PDMS wets the graphene oxide sheets and acts like a glue bonding PDMS and GO sheets. In order to obtain further insights on mechanisms behind the enhanced mechanical pGO response we carried out fully atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Based on MD results, we build up a structural model that can explain the experimentally observed mechanical behavior.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Christiani ◽  
Karen Mys ◽  
Karl Dyer ◽  
Jennifer Kadlowec ◽  
Cristina Iftode ◽  
...  

Low back pain (LBP) is a major public health issue associated with degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD). The early stages of degeneration are characterized by the dehydration of the central, gelatinous portion of the IVD, the nucleus pulposus (NP). One possible treatment approach is to replace the NP in the early stages of IVD degeneration with a hydrogel that restores healthy biomechanics while supporting tissue regeneration. The present study evaluates a novel thermosensitive hydrogel based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-graft-chondroitin sulfate) (PNIPAAM-g-CS) for NP replacement. The hypothesis was tested that the addition of freeze-dried, calcium crosslinked alginate microparticles (MPs) to aqueous solutions of PNIPAAm-g-CS would enable tuning of the rheological properties of the injectable solution, as well as the bioadhesive and mechanical properties of the thermally precipitated composite gel. Further, we hypothesized that the composite would support encapsulated cell viability and differentiation. Structure-material property relationships were evaluated by varying MP concentration and diameter. The addition of high concentrations (50 mg/mL) of small MPs (20 ± 6 μm) resulted in the greatest improvement in injectability, compressive mechanical properties, and bioadhesive strength of PNIPAAm-g-CS. This combination of PNIPAAM-g-CS and alginate MPs supported the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) towards an NP-like phenotype in the presence of soluble GDF-6. When implanted ex vivo into the intradiscal cavity of degenerated porcine IVDs, the formulation restored the compressive and neutral zone (NZ) stiffnesses to intact values and resisted expulsion under lateral bending. Overall, results indicate the potential of the hydrogel composite to serve as a scaffold for supporting NP regeneration. This work uniquely demonstrates that encapsulation of re-hydrating polysaccharide-based MPs may be an effective method for improving key functional properties of in situ forming hydrogels for orthopaedic tissue engineering applications.


Author(s):  
A. LeFurgey ◽  
P. Ingram ◽  
L.J. Mandel

For quantitative determination of subcellular Ca distribution by electron probe x-ray microanalysis, decreasing (and/or eliminating) the K content of the cell maximizes the ability to accurately separate the overlapping K Kß and Ca Kα peaks in the x-ray spectra. For example, rubidium has been effectively substituted for potassium in smooth muscle cells, thus giving an improvement in calcium measurements. Ouabain, a cardiac glycoside widely used in experimental and clinical applications, inhibits Na-K ATPase at the cell membrane and thus alters the cytoplasmic ion (Na,K) content of target cells. In epithelial cells primarily involved in active transport, such as the proximal tubule of the rabbit kidney, ouabain rapidly (t1/2= 2 mins) causes a decrease2 in intracellular K, but does not change intracellular total or free Ca for up to 30 mins. In the present study we have taken advantage of this effect of ouabain to determine the mitochondrial and cytoplasmic Ca content in freeze-dried cryosections of kidney proximal tubule by electron probe x-ray microanalysis.


2014 ◽  
Vol 52 (11) ◽  
pp. 949-956
Author(s):  
Hyunkyu Lim ◽  
Wonseok Yang ◽  
Young-Gil Jung ◽  
Shae K. Kim ◽  
Do-Hyang Kim

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 843-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiguo Xu ◽  
Shujun Dong ◽  
Yuping Han ◽  
Shuqiang Li ◽  
Yang Liu

Hydrogels, as a class of materials for tissue engineering and drug delivery, have high water content and solid-like mechanical properties. Currently, hydrogels with an antibacterial function are a research hotspot in biomedical field. Many advanced antibacterial hydrogels have been developed, each possessing unique qualities, namely high water swellability, high oxygen permeability, improved biocompatibility, ease of loading and releasing drugs and structural diversity. In this article, an overview is provided on the preparation and applications of various antibacterial hydrogels. Furthermore, the prospects in biomedical researches and clinical applications are predicted.


2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-120
Author(s):  
Raisa A. Alekhina ◽  
Victoriya E. Slavkina ◽  
Yuliya A. Lopatina

The article presents options for recycling polymers. The use of biodegradable materials is promising. This is a special class of polymers that can decompose under aerobic or anaerobic conditions under the action of microorganisms or enzymes forming natural products such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water, biomass, and inorganic salts. (Research purpose) The research purpose is in reviewing biodegradable materials that can be used for the manufacture of products used in agriculture. (Materials and methods) The study are based on open information sources containing information about biodegradable materials. Research methods are collecting, studying and comparative analysis of information. (Results and discussion) The article presents the advantages and disadvantages of biodegradable materials, mechanical properties of the main groups of biodegradable polymers. The article provides a summary list of agricultural products that can be made from biodegradable polymer materials. It was found that products from the general group are widely used in agriculture. Authors have found that products from a special group can only be made from biodegradable polymers with a controlled decomposition period in the soil, their use contributes to increasing the productivity of crops. (Conclusions) It was found that biodegradable polymer materials, along with environmental safety, have mechanical properties that allow them producing products that do not carry significant loads during operation. We have shown that the creation of responsible products (machine parts) from biodegradable polymers requires an increase in their strength properties, which is achievable by creating composites based on them. It was found that the technological complexity of their manufacture and high cost are the limiting factors for the widespread use of biodegradable polymers at this stage.


CivilEng ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 523-540
Author(s):  
Imed Beghoura ◽  
Joao Castro-Gomes

This study focuses on the development of an alkali-activated lightweight foamed material (AA-LFM) with enhanced density. Several mixes of tungsten waste mud (TWM), grounded waste glass (WG), and metakaolin (MK) were produced. Al powder as a foaming agent was added, varying from 0.009 w.% to 0.05 w.% of precursor weight. Expanded granulated cork (EGC) particles were incorporated (10% to 40% of the total volume of precursors). The physical and mechanical properties of the foamed materials obtained, the effects of the amount of the foaming agent and the percentage of cork particles added varying from 10 vol.% to 40% are presented and discussed. Highly porous structures were obtained, Pore size and cork particles distribution are critical parameters in determining the density and strength of the foams. The compressive strength results with different densities of AA-LFM obtained by modifying the foaming agent and cork particles are also presented and discussed. Mechanical properties of the cured structure are adequate for lightweight prefabricated building elements and components.


Author(s):  
D. L. Russell ◽  
M. McTavish

The various relationships that are possible between the mechanical properties of single actuators and the overall mechanism (in this case a human arm with or without a prosthetic elbow) are discussed. Graphical and analytical techniques for describing the range of overall limb stiffnesses that are achievable and for characterizing the overall limb stiffness have been developed. Using a biomimetic approach and, considering energetic costs, stability and complexity, the implications of choosing passive or active implementations of stiffness are discussed. These techniques and approaches are particularly applicable with redundant (agonist - antagonist) actuators and multiple degrees of freedom. Finally, a novel biomimetic approach for control is proposed.


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