Temperature/pH/magnetic triple‐sensitive nanogel–hydrogel nanocomposite for release of anticancer drug

Hydrogels, nanogels and nanocomposites show increasing potential for application in drug delivery systems due to their good chemical and physical properties. Therefore, we were encouraged to combine them to produce a new compound with unique properties for a long‐term drug release system. In this regard, the design and application of a nanocomposite hydrogel containing entrapped nanogel for drug delivery are demonstrated. To this aim, we first prepared an iron oxide nanocomposite nanogel based on poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐co‐((2‐dimethylaminoethyl) methacrylate) (PNIPAM‐co‐PDMA) grafted onto sodium alginate (NaAlg) as a biocompatible polymer and iron oxide nanoparticles (ION) as nanometric base (PND/ION‐NG). This was then added into a solution of PDMA grafted onto NaAlg. Through dropwise addition of mixed aqueous solution of iron salts into the prepared polymeric solution, a novel hydrogel nanocomposite with excellent pH, thermal and magnetic responsivity was fabricated. The synthesized samples were fully characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis, vibrating sample magnetometry and atomic force microscopy. A mechanism for the formation of PNIPAM‐co‐PDMA/NaAlg‐ION nanogel–PDMA/NaAlg‐ION hydrogel and PND/ION nanogel is suggested. Swelling capacity was measured at various temperatures (25 to 45 °C), pH values (from 2 to 11) and magnetic field and under load (0.3 psi) and the dependence of swelling properties of the nanogel–hydrogel nanocomposite on these factors was well demonstrated. The release rate of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) as an anticancer drug was studied at different pH values and temperatures in the presence and absence of a magnetic field. The results showed that these factors have a high impact on drug release from this nanocomposite. The result showed that DOX release could be sustained for up to 12.5 days from these nanocomposite hydrogels, significantly longer than that achievable using the constituent hydrogel or nanogel alone (<1 day). The results indicated that the nanogel–hydrogel nanocomposite can serve as a novel nanocarrier for anticancer drug delivery. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Highly stretchable self-sensing actuator based on conductive photothermally-responsive hydrogel

Soft robots built with active soft materials have been increasingly attractive. Despite tremendous efforts in soft sensors and actuators, it remains extremely challenging to construct intelligent soft materials that simultaneously actuate and sense their own motions, resembling living organisms’ neuromuscular behaviors. This work presents a soft robotic strategy that couples actuation and strain-sensing into a single homogeneous material, composed of an interpenetrating double-network of a nanostructured thermo-responsive hydrogel poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and a light-absorbing, electrically conductive polymer polypyrrole (PPy). This design grants the material both photo/thermal-responsiveness and piezoresistive-responsiveness, enabling remotely-triggered actuation and local strain-sensing. This self-sensing actuating soft material demonstrated ultra-high stretchability (210%) and large volume shrinkage (70%) rapidly upon irradiation or heating (13%/°C, 6-time faster than conventional PNIPAAm). The significant deswelling of the hydrogel network induces densification of percolation in the PPy network, leading to a drastic conductivity change upon locomotion with a gauge factor of 1.0. The material demonstrated a variety of precise and remotely-driven photo-responsive locomotion such as signal-tracking, bending, weightlifting, object grasping and transporting, while simultaneously monitoring these motions itself via real-time resistance change. The multifunctional sensory actuatable materials may lead to the next-generation soft robots of higher levels of autonomy and complexity with self-diagnostic feedback control.     

Polymer hydrogel cross-linked by inorganic nanoparticles for removing trace metal ions

Hydrogels for absorbing metal ions in wastewater have attracted more attentions in the environmental field especially for recent years. The removal efficiency of hydrogel adsorbents for eliminating metal ions is highly related with the effective contact between adsorbents and adsorbates. However, poor water absorption capacity of the hydrogel adsorbents would restrict on the expose of adsorption sites to the targeted subjects, causing undesirable removal ratio (RR) especially for metal ions at trace level. Thereby, the reported hydrogel adsorbents mainly focus on the removal of high content but not the trace level of metal ions so far. In this work, poly(acrylamide) (PAM)/poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)/Ca(OH)₂ composite hydrogel is applied to adsorb trace metal ions. Swelling ratio of such PAM/PAA/Ca(OH)₂ gel reaches 2,530 g/g, resulting in effective exposure of active sites and further expected RR for trace metal ions. The RRs of such adsorbent for Cu²⁺ (initial concentration C₀ = 0.064 mg/L), Al³⁺ (C₀ = 0.27 mg/L), Co²⁺ (C₀ = 0.59 mg/L), Cr⁶⁺ (C₀ = 0.52 mg/L), Mn²⁺ (C₀ = 0.55 mg/L), Ni²⁺ (C₀ = 0.59 mg/L), Zn²⁺ (C₀ = 0.65 mg/L), Ag⁺ (C₀ = 1.08 mg/L), and La³⁺ (C₀ = 1.39 mg/L) are 56.6, 80.8, 41.3, 29.3, 34.6, 44.6, 55.9, 45.8, and 35.5%, respectively. This work broadens the application of hydrogel adsorbent for eliminating trace metal ions from polluted water.     

Hydrogel photocatalysts for efficient energy conversion and environmental treatment

Photocatalysts have attracted great research interest owing to their excellent properties and potential for simultaneously addressing challenges related to energy needs and environmental pollution. Photocatalytic particles need to be in contact with their respective media to exhibit efficient photocatalytic performances. However, it is difficult to separate nanometer-sized photocatalytic materials from reaction media later, which may lead to secondary pollution and a poor recycling performance. Hydrogel photocatalysts with a three-dimensional (3D) network structures are promising support materials for photocatalysts based on features such as high specific surface areas and adsorption capacities and good environmental compatibility. In this review, hydrogel photocatalysts are classified into two different categories depending on their elemental composition and recent progresses in the methods for preparing hydrogel photocatalysts are summarized. Moreover, current applications of hydrogel photocatalysts in energy conversion and environmental remediation are reviewed. Furthermore, a comprehensive outlook and highlight future challenges in the development of hydrogel photocatalysts are presented.     

丙烯酸/α-甲基丙烯酸/丙烯酰胺共聚物智能水凝胶的合成及评价

由丙烯酸（AA）、α-甲基丙烯酸（MAA）和丙烯酰胺（AM）合成了具有很好DH敏感性和一定温度敏感性的智能水凝胶，考察了合成温度、丙烯酰胺、交联剂和引发剂用量对制备的水凝胶溶胀性能的影响。结果表明，在60℃下，单体从和MAA用量分别为100mmol和75mmol时，单体AM、交联剂和引发剂用量分别为反应物总质量的32．8％、0．2％和0．4％时，制备的水凝胶溶胀性能最好。考察了介质的离子浓度、pH值和温度对水凝胶溶胀比的影响，结果表明，离子浓度越大，水凝胶的溶胀比越小；水凝胶具有一定的DH可逆性。     

Preparation and Characterization of Starch-g-PVA/Nano-hydroxyapatite Complex Hydrogel

1Introduction Biodegradablehydrogelshadattractedmuchattentioninrecentyearsduetotheiruniquecombinationofproper ties,suchasbiocompatibility,permeability,hydrophilici ty,andlowcoefficientoffriction[1].Poly(vinylalcohol)(PVA)waswater solubleanddegradable[2].I…     

PAM、PNaA和P(AM-NaA)水凝胶微观形态的分形研究

用辐射聚合方法合成的丙烯酰胺、丙烯酸钠的均聚物及其共聚物水凝胶，借助于扫描电子显微镜技术观察了组成不同的干态水凝胶聚合物的微观形态特征，探讨了不均匀的微观交联网络的分形特性，用分形维数对水凝胶聚合物的微观网络的致密程度进行了量化表征。结果表明，分形维数能够从整体上定量地表征水凝胶聚合物的不均匀微观网络之间随组成改变而产生的细微差异，而且，样品的微观网络愈致密则其分形维数值愈大。     

Bioeompatibility of Compounds of Extracellular Matrix and Thermally Reversible Hydrogel

A new scaffold material composed of extracellular matrix （ECM） and thermal sensitive hydrogel （HG）, and evaluated its biocompatibility were investigated. We cultured bladder smooth muscle cells with this compound material, and then observed with phase contrast microscopy and scanning electron microscope （SEM） to assess the cell growth and morphology. The cell adhesion and proliferation were detected with MTT assay and cell count. Results show the ECM/HG compounds appeared as a net-like and red-stained construction with enough meshes and without any cellular fragments. 6 h after implantation, cells were observed adhere on the compounds and extend spurious along the fibers 12 h later. Under SEM even some ECM was observed to be secreted. MTT assay shows there was obvious statistic difference among 3 groups （P〈0.05）. ECM/HG compound materials show a good biocompatibility, which confirms that it would be an ideal tissue engineering scaffolds.     

明胶-异丙基丙烯酰胺水凝胶的溶胀性

以明胶和N -异丙基丙烯酰胺 (NIPAM )为原料 ,制备了明胶 -PNIPAM (聚N -异丙基丙烯酰胺 )水凝胶 ,研究不同的明胶 /NIPAM配比、温度、离子强度对其平衡溶胀度的影响。结果表明 :交联剂质量分数为 2 %时 ,当温度高于最低临界溶液温度 (LCST)值 ,水凝胶中明胶组分越多 ,凝胶的平衡吸水量越大 ;当温度低于LCST ,质量比为明胶 /NIPAM =5 /5 ,水凝胶的溶胀度最大。交联剂质量分数为 0 3%时 ,无论温度在LCST以上或以下 ,溶胀度都随明胶含量的增加而增加。离子强度对溶胀度的影响呈非单调性关系。