Thermally exfoliated graphene oxide reinforced stress responsive conductive nanocomposite hydrogel

Lightweight and flexible biosensors that can sustain mechanical deformation and can be adhered to human skin is an interesting field of study. In the current article, a systematic study on development of thermally exfoliated graphene oxide (TEGO)–reinforced poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)–based conductive hydrogel nanocomposites has been reported. The free‐standing hydrogels were synthesized using controlled and repetitive freeze‐thaw cycles. The samples were then studied for their mechanical as well as electrical properties. The hydrogels were characterized for their microstructural, chemical, and rheological properties to understand the observed macroscopic properties. Additionally, a study on the behavior of hydrogels immersed in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) was carried out to investigate their hydrolytic stability within simulated biological environment. Overall, the nanocomposite hydrogels demonstrated excellent static and dynamic mechanical performance, stability in PBS, considerable electrical conductivity, and significant electrical response to applied external stress, establishing their potential for use as flexible biosensors.     

Fabrication and characterization of low-cost freeze-gelated chitosan/collagen/hydroxyapatite hydrogel nanocomposite scaffold

In the present research, chitosan/collagen and chitosan/collagen/nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP) hydrogel nanocomposites were prepared using naturally extracted chitosan from Persian Gulf shrimp wastes and rat tail-tendon collagen. Freeze-gelation method was used to prepare highly porous scaffolds. The morphology, chemical structure, water retainability, and thermal properties were characterized using SEM, FTIR, water content experiment, simultaneous thermal analysis (STA), respectively. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation and unconfined compression test were used to assess different feature of the mechanical properties of the hydrogels. The obtained results were so promising that the prepared nanocomposites can be considered as a potential candidate for cartilage tissue engineering.     

Quadruple thermo-photo-redox-responsive random copolypeptide nanogel and hydrogel

Quadruple stimuli-responsive random copolypeptide of poly(methoxydiethyleneglycol-L-glutamate)-co-poly(S-(o-nitrobenzyl)-L-cysteine) was synthesized by ring-opening copolymerization, simultaneously presenting thermo-photo-redox-responsive self-assembly behavior and forming nanogel and hydrogel in water.     

Synthesis and properties of a novel double network nanocomposite hydrogel

A novel polyacrylamide/polyacrylic acid (PAAm/PAA) double network (DN) nanocomposite (NC) hydrogel had been synthesized by two‐step solution polymerization. The PAAm network was crosslinked by inorganic clay while the PAA network was crosslinked by a chemical crosslinker. The chemical structure of the network was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The swelling and mechanical strength properties of PAAm/PAA hydrogels were examined. The results showed that a DN hydrogel achieved both a high swelling capacity of 1219 g/g in deionized water and 124 g/g in 0.9 wt% NaCl solution and high compressive stress of 21.5 kPa in a high water content of 99.58%. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pressure-responsive AuNPs/Polyacrylamide Nanocomposite Hydrogel with Highly Stable and Tunable Electrochemiluminescence Performances

Synergistically taking the advantage of distinctive porous matrix, luminophore and functional nanoparticles, we prepared functional nanocomposite hydrogel combining the hydrophilic three-dimensional network of hydrogels as matrix for the adsorption of luminophore, Ru(bpy)₃²⁺, and in situ grown gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as the conductive. Interestingly, the designed nanocomposite hydrogel shows external pressure resposnsive properties, which precisely tune the distance between the AuNPs becomes shorter, resulting in a remarkable amplification of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) signals. Additionally, differing from the poor stability of conventional ECL, uniform dispersion of the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ over nanocomposite hydrogel significantly enhanced the long term stability of ECL.     

PVA-clay nanocomposite hydrogels for wound dressing

Polymer gels as soft biomaterials have found diverse applications in biomedical field, e.g. in management and care of wound as wound dressing.The recent researches on nanocomposite materials have shown that some properties of polymers and gels significantly improve by adding organoclay into polymeric matrix. In this work, in order to obtain wound dressing with better properties, nanocomposite hydrogel wound dressing was prepared using combination of polyvinyl alcohol hydogel and organoclay, i.e. Na-montmorillonite, via the freezing-thawing method. The effect of organoclay quantity on the structural, swelling, physical and mechanical properties of nanocomposite hydrogel wound dressing was investigated. The results showed that the nanocomposite hydrogels could meet the essential requirements for the reasonable wound dressing with some desirable characteristics such as relatively good swelling, appreciated vapour transmission rate, excellent barrierity against microbe penetration and mechanical properties. The results also indicated that the quantity of the clay added to the nanocomposite hydrogel is the key factor in obtaining such suitable properties required for wound dressing.     

Silver nanocomposite hydrogel of Gum Ghatti with potential antibacterial property

Abstract

A nanocomposite hydrogel based on the polysaccharide Gum ghatti (Gg) has been made by microwave assisted polymerization of N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) in the presence of Gg. Silver nanoparticles have been incorporated into the gel by chemical reduction method. The conditions for obtaining the graft copolymer gel and its nanocomposite have been optimized. The chemical, thermal and morphological characterization of the synthesized materials have been made using FTIR, TGA, SEM, EDS, XRD and TEM techniques. Swelling studies in aqueous media indicated the influence of nanoparticles in enhancing the swelling ability of the gel by three fold. In addition, the presence Ag nanoparticles is found to impart significant antibacterial property to the gel against Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria, the effect being pronounced on the former.     

Preparation and properties of inhalable nanocomposite particles: effects of the size, weight ratio of the primary nanoparticles in nanocomposite particles and temperature at a spray-dryer inlet upon properties of nanocomposite particles

Nanoparticles are expected to be applicable to inhalation as carrier but there exist disadvantages because of their size. Their deposition dose to the lung will be small. To overcome this problem and utilize nanoparticles for inhalation, we have prepared nanocomposite particles as drug carriers targeting lungs. The nanocomposite particles are prepared as drug-loaded nanoparticles–additive complex to reach deep in the lungs and to be decomposed into nanoparticles when they deposit into lung. In this study, we examined the effect of preparation condition – inlet temperature, size of primary nanoparticles and weight ratio of primary nanoparticles – on the property of nanocomposite particles.

When the size of primary nanoparticles was 400 nm and inlet temperature was 90 °C, only the nanocomposite particles containing between 45 and 55% of primary nanoparticles could be decomposed into nanoparticles in water. On the other hand, when the inlet temperature was 80 °C, nanocomposite particles were decomposed into nanoparticles independent of the weight ratio of primary nanoparticles. Also, the aerodynamic diameter of the nanocomposite particles was between 1.5 and 2.5 μm, independent of the weight ratio of primary nanoparticles.

When the size of primary nanoparticles was 200 nm and inlet temperature was 70 °C, nanocomposite particles were decomposed into nanoparticles independent of the weight ratio of primary nanoparticles. Also, the aerodynamic diameters of them were almost 2.0 μm independent of the weight ratio of primary nanoparticles. When the nanocomposite particles containing nanoparticles with the size of 200 nm are prepared at 80 °C, no decomposition into nanoparticles was observed in water.

Fine particle values, FPF, of the nanocomposite particles were not affected by the weight ratio of primary nanoparticles when they were prepared at optimum inlet temperature.     

Preparation of a novel pH-responsive silver nanoparticle/poly(HEMA-PEGMA-MAA) composite hydrogel

In this paper, series of novel pH-responsive silver (Ag) nanoparticle/poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA)-methacrylic acid (MAA)) composite hydrogel were successfully prepared by in situ reducing Ag⁺ ions anchored in the hydrogel by the deprotonized carboxyl acid groups. X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electric conductivity tests were used to characterize the composite system. It was found that the size and morphology of the reduced Ag nanoparticles in the composite hydrogels could be changed by loading the Ag⁺ ions at various swelling ratios of hydrogel. Moreover, compared to the pure poly(HEMA-PEGMA-MAA) hydrogel, not only did the Ag nanoparticle/poly(HEMA-PEGMA-MAA) composite hydrogels exhibit much higher swelling ratio and faster deswelling rate, but also higher pH switchable electrical properties upon controlling the interparticle distance under pH stimulus. The pH responsive nanocomposite hydrogel reported here might be a potentially smart material in the range of applications including electronics, biosensors and drug-delivery devices.     

Surface modification of cotton fabric with dual‐responsive PNIPAAm/chitosan nano hydrogel

The present study deals with preparing stimuli‐responsive poly N‐isopropyl acryl amide/chitosan (PNCS) nano hydrogel and looks into their effects as a surface modifying system of cotton fabric. The semi‐batch surfactant‐free emulsion polymerization method was proposed to reduce the size of particle and synthesis of PNCS nano particles. Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering methods confirmed the nano size of synthesized PNCS particles and sensitivity of these nano particles to the different temperature and pH, respectively. The water retention capacity (WRC) and carboxyl content of modified cotton with PNCS nano particles were assessed through the central composite design. The bounded PNCS nano particles to the surface of cotton fabrics made them responsive to these dual stimuli. The results demonstrated the dual effect of BTCA amount on WRC. Increase of the amount of BTCA itself led to the decrease of the WRC of modified cotton, but in the presence of PNCS, WRC was significantly increased. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Formation and characteristics of starch‐based dual photo‐function composite hydrogel

Starch‐based dual photo‐functional hydrogel (SDPH) was obtained via incorporating the azo group onto the backbone of polymeric network and titanium dioxide within the gel at the same time. The structure and composition of SDPH were confirmed with Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐Vis) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and energy scattering X‐ray spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy observation revealed that titanium dioxide was well dispersed within SDPH. It was found that SDPH not only showed a reversible light‐sensitive behavior but also possessed photo‐catalytic activity. Moreover, the dual photo‐characteristics could be modulated by simply varying the initial amount of titanium dioxide.     

A ready-to-use fast gelation/liquefying hydrogel towards enzyme free three-dimensional cell culture

Trypsin treatment employed in traditional cell desorption method cause the damage of extracellular matrix protein and cell membrane integrity. Two-dimensional thermo-sensitive cell culture dish has the limitation of insufficient area. This report describes an ingenious design and synthesis of a thermoresponsive chitosan-based hydrogel, N-succinyl chitosan (NSCS) grafted poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), named NSCS-g-PNIPAM. We then demonstrate the ultrafast gelation and liquefying of NSCS-g-PNIPAM by reversibly tuning the temperature of hydrogel solution above (gelation) or below (liquefying) 32°C. These unique features render the NSCS-g-PNIPAM hydrogel an ideal matrix for enzyme-free three-dimensional cell culture. As an exemplar, the skeleton muscle cell is chosen for in vitro cellular studies. The data suggests that after seven passages and harvesting, the amount of total protein, laminin and fibronectin of cell collected from the thermoreponsive hydrogel group shows unsignificant decrease after seven passages. The proteins on the cell surface are well protected compared to the conventional trypsin-treated method. In addition, by labeling the NSCS-g-PNIPAM hydrogels with tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-based aggregation-induced-emission (AIE) luminogenes, NSCS-g-PNIPAM were observed by confocal microscopy and they remain outside during entire cell culturing period.     

Preparation and properties of inhalable nanocomposite particles: effects of the temperature at a spray-dryer inlet upon the properties of particles

To overcome the disadvantages both of microparticles and nanoparticles for inhalation, we have prepared nanocomposite particles as drug carriers targeting lungs. The nanocomposite particles having sizes about 2.5 μm composed of sugar and drug-loaded PLGA nanoparticles can reach deep in the lungs, and they are decomposed into drug-loaded PLGA nanoparticles in the alveoli. Sugar was used as a binder of PLGA nanoparticles to be nanocomposite particles and is soluble in alveolar lining fluid. The primary nanoparticles containing bioactive materials were prepared by using a probe sonicator. And then they were spray dried with carrier materials, such as trehalose and lactose. The effects of inlet temperature of spray dryer were studied between 60 and 120 °C and the kind of sugars upon properties of nanocomposite particles. When the inlet temperatures were 80 and 90 °C, nanocomposite particles with average diameters of about 2.5 μm are obtained and they are decomposed into primary nanoparticles in water, in both sugars are used as a binder. But, those prepared above 100 °C are not decomposed into nanoparticles in water, while the average diameter was almost 2.5 μm. On the other hand, nanocomposite particles prepared at lower inlet temperatures have larger sizes but better redispersion efficiency in water. By the measurements of aerodynamic diameters of the nanocomposite particles prepared with trehalose at 70, 80, and 90 °C, it was shown that the particles prepared at 80 °C have the highest fine particle fraction (FPF) value and the particles are suitable for pulmonary delivery of bioactive materials deep in the lungs. Meanwhile the case with lactose, the particles prepared at 90 °C have near the best FPF value but they have many particles larger than 11 μm.     

Decontamination of methylene blue from aqueous media using alginate-bonded polyacrylamide/carbon black nanocomposite hydrogel

This work synthesized the novel alginate (Alg) based nanocomposite hydrogel using the free radical polymerization method to remove methylene blue (MB) from the aqueous solution. The successful grafting of acrylamide (AAm) monomer onto the alginate backbone was confirmed by the FTIR test. Different carbon black (CB) nanoparticle levels (0–12.5 wt.%) were embedded in a hydrogel matrix to enhance the removal efficiency, and its optimum value was obtained at 7.5 wt.%. FTIR, TGA, BET, and SEM analyses were performed to characterize synthesized adsorbents. TGA results showed that Alg-g-poly(AAm)/CB nanocomposite hydrogel has a higher thermal stability than Alg-g-poly(AAm) hydrogel. SEM analysis showed that incorporating CB into Alg-g-poly(AAm) considerably enhances roughness and surface area. Also, a higher surface area of Alg-g-poly(AAm)/CB (2.5 m²/g) was confirmed by BET analysis. The removal efficiency of nanocomposite hydrogel at optimum conditions of pH 6, initial concentration 10 mg/L, temperature 25 °C, and contact time 60 min was calculated at 94.63%. The kinetic and isotherm data were best fitted to pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models. The monolayer adsorption capacity for Alg-g-poly(AAm) and Alg-g-poly(AAm)/CB were calculated at 22.77 and 24.56 mg/g, respectively, showing CB's effectiveness in improving MB adsorption. The thermodynamic study showed that the removal process of MB by both adsorbents is spontaneous and exothermic, and entropy decreases. The synthesized adsorbents showed a good performance in textile wastewater treatment. Finally, it can be concluded that the synthesized adsorbents can be successfully applied for wastewater treatment application.     

Preparation and properties of inhalable nanocomposite particles for treatment of lung cancer

Nanoparticles have widely been studied in drug delivery research for targeting and controlled release. The aim of this article is application of nanoparticles as an inhalable agent for treatment of lung cancer. To deposit effectively deep the particles in the lungs, the PLGA nanoparticles loaded with the anticancer drug 6-{[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]amino}-3-hydroxyl-7H-indeno[2,1-c]quinolin-7-one dihydrochloride (TAS-103) were prepared in the form of nanocomposite particles. The nanocomposite particles consist of the complex of drug-loaded nanoparticles and excipients. In this study, the anticancer effects of the nanocomposite particles against the lung cancer cell line A549. Also, the concentration of TAS-103 in blood and lungs were determined after administration of the nanocomposite particles by inhalation to rats.TAS-103-loaded PLGA nanoparticles were prepared with 5% and 10% of loading ratio by spray drying method with trehalose as an excipient. The 5% drug-loaded nanocomposite particles were more suitable for inhalable agent because of the sustained release of TAS-103 and higher FPF value. Cytotoxicity of nanocomposite particles against A549 cells was higher than that of free drug.When the nanocomposite particles were administered in rats by inhalation, drug concentration in lung was much higher than that in plasma. Furthermore, drug concentration in lungs administered by inhalation of nanocomposite particles was much higher than that after intravenous administration of free drug.From these results, the nanocomposite particle systems could be promising for treatment of lung cancer.     

Anchoring of polyacrylate onto silica and formation of polyacrylate/silica nanocomposite particles via in situ emulsion polymerization

Polyacrylate/silica nanocomposite latex particles were prepared by in situ emulsion polymerization of acrylate monomers initiated by 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride (AIBA) adsorbed by silica nanoparticles. The anchoring of polyacrylate (ACR) onto silica nanoparticles was achieved through the physical absorption and chemical grafting reaction. The elution and HF etching experiments showed that most silica nanoparticles were encapsulated by ACR to form the raspberry-like ACR/silica nanocomposite latex particles. The silica nanoparticles with a greater grafting degree of ACR tended to locate in the bulk of the polymer, and the silica particle with a lower grafting degree would not be combined with polymer latex particles and always remained in water phase. The formation of the final ACR/silica nanocomposite latex particles included the anchoring of ACR onto silica primary particles, aggregation of silica primary particles to form the silica-containing latex particles, and the growth of latex particles.     

Hydrogel nanonetworks with functional core-shell structure

Nanohydrogel particles of poly(acrylonitrile-co-N-isopropylacrylamide (p(AN-c-NIPAM)) were synthesized using a microemulsion polymerization technique. Highly monodisperse nanohydrogel particles e.g. 50-150 nm, and various morphology such as core-shell and connected beads were obtained. It was shown that the shell thickness and the size of particles can be tuned by the monomer concentrations and their ratios as well as by the utilization of different crosslinkers. The hydrophobic core monomer, AN was converted to amidoxime groups to increase the hydrophilicity of the nanogels which provide more hydrophilic character and impart new functionality to the nanonetwork. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques were employed for the particle size characterizations. The amidoximation reaction was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy.     

高分子水凝胶在医学领域的研究进展

高分子水凝胶是具有三维网络结构的一种新型材料,吸水溶胀后质地柔软,与生物体组织相似,生物相容性和生物可降解性良好,具有一定的力学性能,因此在医学领域具有重要的应用。本文对高分子水凝胶在医学领域的研究热点进行了归纳总结,并重点阐述了高分子水凝胶在药物输送、组织工程支架、伤口敷料和生物传感器等医学领域应用的最新研究进展,并对其未来发展趋势进行了展望。     

Colloidal dispersions of polyindole

Polyindole dispersions consisting of 20–30-nm-sized nanoparticles are prepared by chemical oxidation with ferric chloride using sodium dodecyl sulphate, poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinyl acetate) as steric stabilizers. Pure acetonitrile and acetonitrile–water mixtures are used as solvents. The particle size depended on the concentrations of monomer and the steric stabilizer. The dispersions are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and cyclic voltammetry techniques.     

Synthesis and characteristic of the thermo- and pH-sensitive hydrogel and microporous hydrogel induced by the NP-10 aqueous two-phase system

A series of novel thermo- and pH-sensitive (NP10-AA TPS) hydrogels and microporous (NP10-AA MP) hydrogels, inducing by polyoxyethylene (10) nonyl phenyl ether (NP-10) aqueous two-phase system, was designed and fabricated with acrylic acid (AA) as the monomer for the first time. The resultant NP10-AA TPS hydrogel, compared with the traditional TPS hydrogel, was more advanced in both of the high swelling ratio and the variable lower critical solution temperature (LCST). A simple synthesis technique of the NP10-AA MP hydrogel was developed. The thermo-sensitivity of the NP10-AA TPS hydrogel including the initial swelling ratio, LCST, dehydrated efficiency, was depended strongly on the crosslinker (MBA), initiator (APS), NP-10 and AA concentration. The swelling rate of the NP10-AA MP hydrogel was much higher than that of AA hydrogel dehydrated in the same lyophilization condition.