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.     

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。     

阴,阳离子聚合物地层内凝胶化改善水驱效果的研究

研究了一杆阴离子聚合物（Ａｃ５３０）和一种阳离子聚合物（Ｍｂ５８１）在水溶液中形成凝胶的条件和过程、凝胶化学结构、形态、稳定性和力学性能。在模拟地层的二维微观模型内观测了两种聚合物驱替渗流、相逼、形成凝胶、凝胶封堵大孔道的机理。在亲水填砂模型内测定了阴、阳离子聚合物凝胶体系降低渗透率的能力。     

Dye adsorption characteristics of alginate/polyaspartate hydrogels

This study examined the removal of some basic dyes, such as Methylene Blue, Malachite Green and Methyl Orange, using alginate or alginate/polyaspartate composite gel beads. The adsorption of dyes from aqueous solutions at 25 °C was examined using a batch sorption technique. The effects of CaCl₂ and the dye concentration on the adsorption were examined. Type-S adsorption isotherms were obtained, which is characteristic of a weak solute–solid interaction. The ionic interaction between the dye molecule and gel matrix appears to be responsible for the efficient adsorption of cationic dyes in this system. These results suggest that an alginate/polyaspartate gel can be used as an effective sorbent for water pollutants such as dyes, and the immobilization of these organic contaminants in the hydrogels from wastewater can solve one of the most important environmental problems in the related industry.     

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。     

Long-chain fatty ammonium quaternaries in papermaking

A series of long-chain quaternary ammonium halogen esters (UKK-chemicals), quaternary dimethyl tallow epoxypropyl ammonium halogens (EPK1), quaternary ditallow methyl epoxypropyl ammonium halogens (EPK2), and EPK2 oligomers (EPK2P) were synthesized. At acidic, neutral, or slightly basic conditions, EPK1-, EPK2-, EPK2P-, and UKK-chemicals operate as cationic chemicals. They can be used, for example, as stock sizings, surface sizings, or fixatives. Stock sizing, surface sizing, and fixative experiments indicate that EPK1-, EPK2-, EPK2P-, and UKK-chemicals function at least as well as or better than the corresponding synthetic chemicals used in papermaking.