Fabrication of Hollow Microporous Carbon Spheres from Hyper‐Crosslinked Microporous Polymers

Porous carbon materials prepared from the porous organic polymers are currently the subject of extensive investigation. On the basis of their interesting applications, it is highly desirable to develop new synthetic methodologies to obtain carbon materials with controllable pore size and morphology. Herein, a facile synthesis of hollow microporous carbon spheres (HCSs) from hollow microporous organic capsules (HMOCs) with a good control over the pore morphology, hollow cavity, and the shell thickness is reported. The highly porous hollow carbon spheres are prepared by the pyrolysis of HMOCs‐based microporous polymers. The synthetic parameters, such as hypercrosslinking and pyrolysis conditions, are optimized to modify the porous structures and the properties. The morphology and porosity as well as energy storage applications of the microporous structures HCSs, derived through a combination of divinylbenzene‐crosslinking and micropore‐generating hypercrosslinking, are discussed. These findings provide a new benchmark for fabricating well‐defined HCSs with great promise for various applications.     

The effect of the capillary forces on the desorption of hydrogels in contact with a porous cementitious material

This paper examines the desorption of hydrogels in contact with porous cementitious materials to aid in understanding the mechanisms of water release from superabsorbent polymers (SAP) into cementitious materials. The dependence of hydrogel desorption on the microstructure of cementitious materials and relative humidity was studied. It was shown that the capillary adhesion developed at the interface between the hydrogel and cementitious materials increased the desorption of the hydrogels. The size of hydrogels was shown to influence desorption, beyond the known size dependence of bulk diffusion, through debonding from the cementitious matrix, thereby decreasing the effect of the Laplace pressure on desorption. Microscopic examination highlighted a stark contrast in the desorption morphology of hydrogels with different chemical compositions.     

Bioactive injectable triple acting thermosensitive hydrogel enriched with nano-hydroxyapatite for bone regeneration: in-vitro characterization,Saos-2 cell line cell viability and osteogenic markers evaluation

Hydrogels forming in-situ have gained great attention in the area of bone tissue engineering recently, they were also showed to be a good and less invasive alternative to surgically applied ones. The primal focus of this study was to prepare chitosan-glycerol phosphate thermosensitive hydrogel formed in-situ and loaded with risedronate (bone resorption inhibitor) in an easy way with no requirement of complicated processes or large number of equipment. Then we investigated its effectiveness for bone regeneration. In-situ forming hydrogels were prepared using chitosan cross-linked with glycerol phosphate and loaded with risedronate and nano-hydroxyapatite as bone cement. The prepared hydrogels were characterized by analyzing their gelation time at 37?°C, % porosity, swelling index, in-vitro degradation, rheological properties, and in-vitro drug release. Results showed that the in-situ hydrogels prepared using 2.5% (w/v) chitosan cross-linked with 50% (w/v) glycerol phosphate in the ratio (9:1, v/v) reinforced with 20?mg/mL and nano-hydroxyapatite possessed the most sustained drug release profile. This optimized formulation was further evaluated using DSC and FTIR studies, in addition to their morphological properties using scanning electron microscopy. The effect on Saos-2 cell line viability was evaluated also using MTT assay on the optimized hydrogel formulation in addition to their action on cell proliferation using fluorescence microscope. Moreover, calcium deposition on the hydrogel and alkaline phosphatase activity were evaluated. Risedronate-nano-hydroxyapatite loaded hydrogels significantly enhanced the Saos-2 cell proliferation in addition to enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition. Such results suggest that risedronate-nano-hydroxyapatite loaded hydrogels present great biocompatibility for bone regeneration. Proliferation of cells, as well as deposition of mineral on the hydrogel, was an evidence of the biocompatible nature of the hydrogel. This hydrogel formed in-situ present a good less invasive alternative for bone tissue engineering.     

Polyacrylamide hydrogels and semi-interpenetrating networks (IPNs) with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide): Mechanical properties by measure of compressive elastic modulus

Semi-IPN hydrogels (based on cross-linked polyacrylamide having poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PN1PAAm) inside) were synthesized and their properties, such as swelling ratio and compressive elastic moduli, were studied at several temperatures. Equilibrium swelling ratios of semi-IPN markedly decreased due to the presence of less hydrophilic PNIPAAm chains. The semi-IPN presented greater elastic modulus when compared to the cross-linked PAAm hydrogel. The effect was explained as being an additional contribution of the PNIPAAm chains, which collapsed around the PAAm networks, to the elastic modulus. It was pointed out that the PAAm networks support the collapsed chains. According to the results presented in this work, semi-IPN hydrogels present better mechanical properties than the PAAm hydrogel, mainly when the PNIPAAm chains are in a collapsed state.     

Synthesis and characterization of partially biodegradable and thermosensitive hydrogel

A partially biodegradable and thermosensitive hybrid hydrogel network (DAN series) based on dextran-allylisocyanate (Dex-AI) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) was synthesized via UV photocrosslinking. These hybrid hydrogels were characterized in terms of their chemical structure, thermal, mechanical, morphological and temperature-induced swelling properties. The effect of the composition ratio of Dex-AI to PNIPAAm on such properties were examined. The differential scanning calorimetry data show that this Dex-AI/PNIPAAm hybrid network has an increased lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and glass transition temperature (Tg) with an increase in the Dex-AI content. The interior morphology of these hybrid hydrogels revealed a decreased porous microstructure with an increase in the Dex-AI content in the hybrid network. Furthermore, if the Dex-AI composition became too high, a distinctive network structure with two different microporous structures appeared. The mechanical properties of these hybrid hydrogels also increased with an increase in the Dex-AI content. The temperature dependence of the swelling ratio, the deswelling kinetics as well as the reswelling kinetics was also characterized by gravimetric method. When comparing with a normal PNIPAAm hydrogel, these Dex-AI/PNIPAAm hybrid networks, due to the presence of Dex-AI moiety, also show improved temperature-induced intelligent properties, such as the faster and controllable response dynamics, which may find promising applications in a wide variety of fields, such as biomedical and bioengineering fields.     

牦牛胫骨多级微孔参数化描述

经过若干世纪的选择进化,生物功能陶瓷牦牛胫骨的细观结构高度优化。通过SEM方法观测牦牛胫骨断面的微观形貌,发现多孔形态特征非常明显。对SEM图像进行数字化处理,实现具有较高灰度级分辨率的计算机视觉,借助MATLAB编程统计出孔的个数524,通过计算孔像素面积与骨断面的像素面积之比获得孔隙率0.063。分析获得牦牛胫骨的孔径随着水平级别的变化规律曲线,曲线趋向并收敛于0。获得孔径随个数的变化规律曲线,对其曲线进行多项式拟合获得了9阶函数表达式,描述了牦牛胫骨多级微孔分布的内在规律。     

Calcification capacity of porous pHEMA–TiO2 composite hydrogels

Many investigations have been attempted to promote calcification of synthetic polymers for applications as orthopaedic and dental implants. In this study, novel titanium dioxide (TiO₂) reinforced porous poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) hydrogels were synthesized. Calcification capacity of the composite polymers was examined using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy after incubation of the materials in a simulated body fluid up to 53 days. Mechanical strength, porosity and in vitro cytotoxicity were also investigated. Calcification capacity of porous pHEMA was significantly enhanced by the addition of TiO₂ particulates. Infiltration of calcium phosphate, up to 1000 μm, was observed. The diffusion capacity of calcium ions was affected by the porosity and the interconnectivity of pores in the hydrogel polymers which were influenced by the presence of TiO₂ and the monomer concentration. Cell viability tests indicated that porous hydrogels containing 7.5% TiO₂ were not toxic to 3T3 fibroblast cells. These results demonstrate that incorporating TiO₂ nanoparticulates can promote enhanced formation of calcium phosphate whilst maintaining the porosity and interconnectivity of the hydrogel polymers and would be very useful for the development of orthopaedic tissue engineering scaffolds.     

Graphite/poly (vinyl alcohol) hydrogel composite as porous ringy skirt for artificial cornea

Graphite/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel composites, which were designed as the porous ringy skirt surrounding the transparent core of a novel artificial cornea, were prepared by using the freeze/thawing process and the particle-leaching technique. The properties of the composites, including the water content, the mechanical strength, the porous architecture and the interactions between the graphite and PVA, were investigated. The tissue responses to the composite and pure PVA hydrogel were studied by in vivo implantation in the dorsal muscles of mice. The results showed that chemical interactions were present between the graphite and PVA in the composite, which benefited the combination of the two phases and enhanced the uniform distribution of graphite particles in the PVA matrix. However, the present of graphites in the PVA hydrogels reduced the tensile strength, elongation at break and water content of the composite. Moreover, the porous graphite/PVA hydrogel composite had interconnective pore structure with high porosity and enough mechanical strength. According to the histological analysis of 1 week and 12 weeks post-implantation, the graphite/PVA hydrogel composites showed less inflammatory reactions than the PVA hydrogels at the 1 week post-implantation. Moreover, compared to pure PVA hydrogel, the graphite/PVA hydrogel composite exhibited enhanced migration and infiltration of cells, and more neovascularization and tissue ingrowth. These in vivo characteristics will be beneficial for the long-term biofixation of artificial cornea. Therefore, the porous graphite/PVA hydrogel composite has a potential to be used as novel artificial cornea skirt.     

用于模拟细胞外基质的硫醇-烯水凝胶的制备

先使四臂末端羟基化的聚乙二醇(4-PEG-OH)与降冰片烯(NB)反应制备4-PEG-NB大分子单体,然后将其与二硫苏糖醇通过‘硫醇-烯点击化学方法逐步生长式’制备出硬度可调节的水凝胶并辅以REDV生物多肽修饰,用于模拟二维(2D)和三维(3D)细胞外基质(ECM)。结果表明,4-PEG-NB单体合成的接枝率为90%,制备出的硫醇-烯水凝胶具有多孔结构,发生了硫醇-烯交联反应且交联度高;改变交联比例可将杨氏模量分别调控为0.79、2.40、4.52 kPa;随着水凝胶交联比例的提高,孔隙率随之提高而溶胀率降低。这种水凝胶具有体外降解性;药物释放的前期速度较高,后期较低。2D和3D ECM模拟的细胞培养结果表明,这种水凝胶具有优异的生物相容性。     

温度/pH敏感性Semi-IPN水凝胶的制备与性能

以N-乙烯基乙酰胺（NVA）、醋酸乙烯酯（VAc）和甲基丙烯酸-N,N′-二甲氨基乙酯（DMAEMA）为原料,通过自由基聚合制备了PDMAEMA/P（NVA-co-VAc）半互穿网络（Sem-iIPN）水凝胶。实验结果表明,该水凝胶具有较好的温度敏感性、pH敏感性、溶胀-退胀可逆性。随着温度的逐渐升高,凝胶的溶胀率随之...     

Development of a novel porous cryo-foam for potential wound healing applications

This body of work describes the development of a porous hydrogel for wound healing applications. In the present study poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) based hydrogels were prepared, and their properties were examined. Varying concentrations of the polymers and distilled water were used to prepare the hydrogels. The use of a high shear mixer, for foaming the PVA and PVA/PAA gels, and how this physical change can affect the structure and porosity of the hydrogel in question, represents a key feature of this work. The mechanical and thermal properties were determined by parallel plate rheometry and modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) respectively. The results indicated that the hydrogels containing low concentration of PVA and high volume of H₂O are significantly weaker than those synthesised with higher concentrations of PVA. The thermal analysis shows distinct endotherms and provides evidence of crystallisation. The chemical structure of the hydrogels was confirmed by means of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR).     

3D Printable Gelatin Methacryloyl (GelMA)-Dextran Aqueous Two-Phase System with Tunable Pores Structure and Size Enables Physiological Behavior of Embedded Cells In Vitro

The restricted porosity of most hydrogels established for in vitro 3D tissue engineering applications limits embedded cells with regard to their physiological spreading, proliferation, and migration behavior. To overcome these confines, porous hydrogels derived from aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) are an interesting alternative. However, while developing hydrogels with trapped pores is widespread, the design of bicontinuous hydrogels is still challenging. Herein, an ATPS consisting of photo-crosslinkable gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and dextran is presented. The phase behavior, monophasic or biphasic, is tuned via the pH and dextran concentration. This, in turn, allows the formation of hydrogels with three distinct microstructures: homogenous nonporous, regular disconnected-pores, and bicontinuous with interconnected-pores. The pore size of the latter two hydrogels can be tuned from ≈4 to 100 µm. Cytocompatibility of the generated ATPS hydrogels is confirmed by testing the viability of stromal and tumor cells. Their distribution and growth pattern are cell-type specific but are also strongly defined by the microstructure of the hydrogel. Finally, it is demonstrated that the unique porous structure is sustained when processing the bicontinuous system by inkjet and microextrusion techniques. The proposed ATPS hydrogels hold great potential for 3D tissue engineering applications due to their unique tunable interconnected porosity.     

PolyHEMA and polyHEMA-poly(MMA-co-AA) as substrates for culturing Vero cells

Poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), polyHEMA, is known to prevent cellular attachment and spreading. This hydrogel is used to culture cells not dependent on anchorage. Blending polyHEMA with a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and acrylic acid introduces negative charges to the hydrogel and improves its mechanical characteristics. PolyHEMA and the blend were tested for attachment and proliferation of Vero cells. Dense and porous samples of the hydrogels were used. Attachment assays included cellular quantification with MTT photometry and cellular morphology with the scanning electron microscopy after 2 h culture. Proliferation assays were carried out with 5 and 10 days culture. Cellular morphology included cytochemistry of resin sections and scanning electron microscope observations. Hydrogels allowed a few cells to attach and proliferate. The cells growing on the surface of hydrogels were organized in various layers and showed a differential morphology. Cells located inside the pores remained rounded. The hydrogels showed the possibility of inducing differentiated phenotypic expression.     

氧化石墨烯/丝素蛋白凝胶结构及其性能研究

目前医用凝胶材料普遍存在力学强度较差及生物降解速度过快等问题。以蚕丝丝素蛋白(SF)凝胶为基础材料,加入氧化石墨烯(GO),并将1-乙基-(3-二甲基氨基丙基)碳二亚胺盐酸盐(EDC)及N-羟基琥珀酰亚胺(NHS)作为交联剂制备SF/GO复合凝胶,旨在改善凝胶材料的力学性能,使其在保证复合凝胶材料应有的力学强度的同时,发挥丝素蛋白、氧化石墨烯的生物学效应及凝胶材料的多孔支架作用。实验结果显示,EDC的加入可以使得SF、GO共混形成稳定、均匀的无规卷曲结构,扫描电镜(SEM)显示SF/GO凝胶具有典型的多孔结构。GO的加入可以有效缩短复合材料的凝胶时间,同时复合凝胶材料的力学性能得到明显改善,其压缩强度提高40%以上。GO的加入还可明显延长材料的降解时间。基于SF/GO的复合凝胶在组织修复及再生领域具有较好的应用前景。     

MWCNTs增强聚乙二醇-聚乙烯醇复合水凝胶的制备及性能

利用冻融循环法制备了羧基化多壁碳纳米管(MWCNTs)/聚乙二醇(PEG)-聚乙烯醇(PVA)复合水凝胶。考察了不同质量配比下MWCNTs/PEG-PVA复合水凝胶的微观形貌变化,并研究了复合凝胶的溶胀性能、拉伸强度、热稳定及导电性能。结果表明,加入MWCNTs后MWCNTs/PEG-PVA复合凝胶仍具有多孔的三维网状结构但孔径尺寸变小。当MWCNTs与PVA的质量比大于1.0∶100时,MWCNTs/PEG-PVA复合凝胶的孔洞均匀性降低。随着MWCNTs量的增加,MWCNTs/PEG-PVA复合凝胶的溶胀度及拉伸强度均先升高后降低。当MWCNTs与PVA的质量比为1.0∶100时,MWCNTs/PEG-PVA复合凝胶的溶胀度达到最大(1450%),孔隙率最高(75.8%),拉伸强度及断裂伸长率达到最大值,分别为0.97 MPa和384.0%。MWCNTs的加入提高了MWCNTs/PEG-PVA复合凝胶的热稳定性,MWCNTs/PEG-PVA复合凝胶的初始热分解温度从235℃上升至260℃;随着MWCNTs量的增加,MWCNTs/PEG-PVA复合凝胶的电导率从1.10×10-6 S/cm升高至6.96×10-4 S/cm。     

Preparation,properties, and drug release of thermo- and pH-sensitive poly((2-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)/poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diethylacrylamide) semi-IPN hydrogels

In this paper, a series of semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) hydrogels based on poly((2-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)/poly (N,N-diethylacrylamide) (PDMAEMA/PDEA) were synthesized by changing the initial PDMAEMA/DEA molar ratio at room temperature. The influence of this additive on the property of resulting PDEA hydrogels was investigated and characterized. The interior morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the semi-IPN hydrogels have interconnected porous network structures. The glass transition temperature (T _g) of the semi-IPN hydrogels was observed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Equilibrium swelling ratio (ESR), swelling and deswelling dynamics of the hydrogels responding to temperature and pH were investigated in detail. Compared to PDEA, the semi-IPN hydrogels exhibited excellent mutative values in response to an alternation of the temperature and pH, and showed fast swelling and deswelling rates in response to temperature and pH change. The release behaviors of the model drug, aminophylline, were found dependent on hydrogel compositions and environmental temperature. These results suggest that the stimuli semi-IPN hydrogel have potential application as intelligent drug carriers.     

Stabilization of Polymer‐Hydrogel Capsules via Thiol–Disulfide Exchange

Polymer hydrogels are used in diverse biomedical applications including drug delivery and tissue engineering. Among different chemical linkages, the natural and reversible thiol–disulfide interconversion is extensively explored to stabilize hydrogels. The creation of macro‐, micro‐, and nanoscale disulfide‐stabilized hydrogels commonly relies on the use of oxidizing agents that may have a detrimental effect on encapsulated cargo. Herein an oxidization‐free approach to create disulfide‐stabilized polymer hydrogels via a thiol–disulfide exchange reaction is reported. In particular, thiolated poly(methacrylic acid) is used and the conditions of polymer crosslinking in solution and on colloidal porous and solid microparticles are established. In the latter case, removal of the core particles yields stable, hollow, disulfide‐crosslinked hydrogel capsules. Further, a procedure is developed to achieve efficient disulfide crosslinking of multilayered polymer films to obtain stable, liposome‐loaded polymer‐hydrogel capsules that contain functional enzymatic cargo within the liposomal subcompartments. This approach is envisaged to facilitate the development of biomedical applications of hydrogels, specifically those including fragile cargo.     

Hyaluronic acid hydrogel immobilized with RGD peptides for brain tissue engineering

In this paper, hyaluronic acid hydrogels with open porous structure have been developed for scaffold of brain tissue engineering. A short peptide sequence of arginine–glycine–aspartic acid (RGD) was immobilized on the backbone of the hydrogels. Both unmodified hydrogels and those modified with RGD were implanted into the defects of cortex in rats and evaluated for their ability to improve tissue reconstruction. After 6 and 12 weeks, sections of brains were processed for DAB and Glees staining. They were also labeled with GFAP and ED1 antibodies, and observed under the SEM for ultrastructral examination. After implanting into the lesion of cortex, the porous hydrogels functioned as a scaffold to support cells infiltration and angiogenesis, simultaneously inhibitting the formation of glial scar. In addition, HA hydrogels modified with RGD were able to promote neurites extension. Our experiments showed that the hyaluronic acid-RGD hydrogel provided a structural, three-dimensional continuity across the defect and favoured reorganization of local wound-repair cells, angiogenesis and axonal growth into the hydrogel scaffold, while there was little evidence of axons regeneration in unmodified hydrogel.     

In-situ forming biodegradable glycol chitosan-based hydrogels: Synthesis,characterization, and chondrocyte culture

In-situ forming hydrogels from thiolated glycol chitosan (GCH-SH) and vinyl sulfone-modified PEG (PL-VS) were designed, prepared and successfully applied as biodegradable, non-toxic bio-scaffolds for chondrocyte culture. The hydrogels could be formed in situ under physiological conditions via Michael-type addition between the GCH-SH and PL-VS at a low polymer concentration of 1–3% (w/v). Gelation times varied from 0.75 to 50 min, depending on the polymer concentration and the arm number of PEG-VS. Moreover, a high arm number and a high polymer concentration may lead to efficient network formation of GCH-SH/PEG-VS hydrogels. These hydrogels were found biodegradable in the presence of lysozyme, a cationic protein in the body, for a long period of time. Rheological studies indicated that these hydrogels generally displayed highly elastic property and had higher mechanical strength than those from thiolated hyaluronic acid/PEG-VS reported previously. SEM observation revealed that these hydrogels possessed well-interconnected microporous morphology. Besides these, the chondrocytes could be incorporated and homogeneously distributed in the hydrogel based on GCH-SH and 4-arm PL-VS. Importantly, after cell culture of 14 days, the chondrocytes in the hydrogel remained viable, as determined by a live–dead assay, and the cells kept their round chondrocytic phenotype. These results suggest that Michael-type addition is an effective method in the preparation of in-situ forming, biodegradable GCH-based hydrogels serving as bio-scaffolds for chondrocyte culture.