Dextrin crosslinked with poly(lactic acid): A novel hydrogel for controlled drug release application

A new class of biodegradable crosslinked hydrogel, consisting of hydrophobic polylactic acid (PLA) and hydrophilic dextrin in presence of crosslinker N,N‐methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) has been synthesized by free‐radical polymerization technique using potassium persulfate (KPS) as initiator. By variation of crosslinker concentration, a series of hydrogels have been prepared and the optimized grade has been selected on the basis of higher crosslinking efficiency as well as lower equilibrium swelling characteristics, XRD analysis. The hydrogels have been characterized by FTIR spectra, ¹³C‐NMR spectra, CHN analysis, SEM analysis, swelling characteristics, and toxicity study. In vitro release study of model drugs (ciprofloxacin and ornidazole) from hydrogel matrix has been performed in various buffer solutions at 37°C. The drug release kinetics and mechanism have been studied using zero order, first‐order kinetic models, Korsemeyar–Peppas model, Higuchi model, Hixson–Crowell model, and nonlinear Kopcha model. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40039.     

丙烯酸树脂/LDH纳米复合材料的合成及其耐老化性研究

主要采用成核/晶化隔离法制备纳米双羟基复合金属氧化物(LDH)并改性,再用乳液聚合法合成丙烯酸树脂/LDH纳米复合乳液。利用FTIR、SEM和材料试验机对其进行结构和力学性能表征。结果表明:最佳反应温度为80℃,反应时间为2.5 h,催化剂的用量为0.2 g。并在该条件下成功地合成了丙烯酸树脂/LDH纳米复合材料;并随着LDH含量的增加其成膜速度,膜的透明度,耐老化性都有所提高;但当LDH的含量超过一定值时,其各项性能呈下降趋势。当LDH的含量为3%时,复合材料的各项性能均达到了最佳状态。     

Alcohol-triggered silk fibroin hydrogels having random coil and β-turn structures enhanced for cytocompatible cell response

Alcohol additive is one of the stimulants that induces the fast gelation of silk fibroin solution. Based on our previous report, different alcohol types influence the gelation kinetic and the properties of resulting silk fibroin hydrogels. Here, the effects of alcohol concentrations on the silk fibroin gelation and cell response were reported. All fibroin hydrogels prepared with various alcohol additives showed cell biocompatibility, especially the fibroin hydrogel prepared with 10 wt % n-butanol. Results on the mechanical properties of hydrogels, n-butanol additive enhanced a higher compressive modulus up to ~ 22 times in comparison to non-alcoholic fibroin hydrogel. Fourier transform infrared analysis and peak deconvolution showed a possible formation of more β-turn linkage and random coil structure of fibroin segments in alcoholic fibroin hydrogel. So, the micro-segmental structure of fibroin hydrogel caused the higher compressive modulus, prolonged deformation of the hydrogels, and efficient cell growth on the fibroin hydrogel. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48731.     

Effects of salt-induced changes in protein network structure on the properties of surimi gels: computer simulation and digestion study

Surimi is considered a new base ingredient in special dietary foods because of its excellent gel formation properties and nutritional value. Cross-linked network structures are the basis for the formation of protein hydrogels. In this work, protein network structure induced by NaCl was investigated to evaluate its effects on texture property and digestibility of surimi gels. Micro-protein frameworks were investigated by scanning electron microscope combined with computer simulation, which indicated that the network structure became fine and smooth as a result of salt treatment. The digestibility of surimi with NaCl was higher than that of blank samples in simulated gastric juice in first 30 min, whereas the digestibility showed no significant difference (P = 0.257) in intestinal juice after 180 min. This work aids in understanding of the contribution of salt to the mechanism of surimi gels formation, and its effects on digestion, thus supporting potential applications in special dietary food.     

Effect of Pluronic F127 on the 3D pore morphology of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogels and their nitric oxide release from S-nitrosoglutathione

Changing the pore morphology of hydrogels can be an effective strategy to modulate their drug release profiles. Herein, Pluronic F127 was used to change the three-dimensional pore morphology of crosslinked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (P[NIPAm-co-AAc]) hydrogels. F127 reduced the pore diameters from 20 ± 4 to 2.9 ± 0.4 μm and from 11 ± 1 to 1.4 ± 0.4 μm in hydrogels synthesized at 8 and 30°C, respectively. Small-angle X-ray scattering indicates that the segregation of the F127 during the polymerization process induces F127 phase transitions from unimers (at 8°C) or cubic-packed micelles (at 30°C) to a lamellar structure. P(NIPAm-co-AAc) hydrogels charged with S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), released nitric oxide (NO) spontaneously during hydration. The decrease in the pore diameter led to a twofold to threefold increase in the rate of water absorption and a fourfold to sixfold increase in the rate of NO release of the hydrogels. F127 can be used to change the pore morphology of P(NIPAm-co-AAc) hydrogels, with concomitant changes in their rate of hydration and NO release from GSNO, opening a new perspective for their use in topical NO delivery.     

Effect of rheology and humic acids on the transport of environmental fluids: Potential implications for soil remediation revealed through microfluidics

This study investigated the potential effect of shear rheology and humic acids (HA) on the subsurface transport of polymeric fluids used for the remediation of contaminants. Polymeric fluids were prepared with guar, scleroglucan, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Guar fluids can be used to suspend reactive particles for contaminant degradation. Fluids prepared with 2.5 g/L of guar in water were viscous, and the crosslinker borax (1 g/L) made them viscoelastic. Microfluidics experiments showed that the increase in elasticity blocked the flow of guar in 350 μm channels. Guar, CMC, or scleroglucan fluids containing sodium thiosulfate can be used to trap toxic Cr(VI) in the subsurface and reduce it to harmless Cr(III). Trapping of Cr(VI) is achieved by the gelation of the fluids upon contact with chromium. Before mixing with chromium, HA did not affect the flow of CMC, guar, and scleroglucan in microfluidic channels. Quartz-crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring experiments indicates that HA reduced sorption of guar onto silica, potentially promoting the transport of guar fluids in sandy aquifers. While HA slightly decreased the rate of gelation of CMC and scleroglucan upon contact with chromium, it did not affect the fast gelation rate of guar. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48465.     

Effects of different nut oils on the structures and properties of gel-like emulsions induced by ultrasound using soy protein as an emulsifier

Gel-like emulsions were produced by high-intensity ultrasound (HIU) emulsification using soy protein as an emulsifier. Sunflower (a seed kernel oil), peanut (a groundnut oil), hazelnut, walnut, almond and pine nut oils were chosen as oil phases. The kinds of nut oil significantly affect the structures and properties of gel-like emulsions. The particle size of sunflower oil gel-like emulsion was smallest. Moreover, the macrorheological and microrheological results indicated that the values of apparent viscosity, storage modulus (G′) and elasticity index (EI) of sunflower and almond oil gel-like emulsions were higher while those of the walnut and pine nut oil gel-like emulsions were lower. Moreover, the sunflower oil gel-like emulsion was more stable after 2-month storage. The current study illustrated that HIU was of great importance for the production of high-viscosity gel-like emulsions. Furthermore, the differences of nut oils resulted in diverse physicochemical properties of gel-like emulsions.     

Crystallization-Directed Anisotropic Electroactuation in Selectively Solvated Olefinic Thermoplastic Elastomers: A Thermal and (Electro)Mechanical Property Study

Dielectric elastomers (DEs), a class of soft electroactive polymers that change size upon exposure to an external electric field, constitute an increasingly important class of stimuli-responsive polymers due primarily to their large actuation strains, facile and low-cost fabrication, scalability, and mechanical robustness. Unless purposefully constrained, most DEs exhibit isotropic actuation wherein size changes are the same in all actuation directions. Previous studies of DEs containing oriented, stiff fibers have demonstrated, however, that anisotropic actuation along a designated direction is more electromechanically efficient since this design eliminates energy expended in nonessential directions. To identify an alternative, supramolecular-level route to anisotropic electroactuation, we investigate the thermal and mechanical properties of novel thermoplastic elastomer gels composed of a selectively solvated olefinic block copolymer that not only microphase-separates but also crystallizes upon cooling from the solution state. While these materials possess remarkable mechanical attributes (e.g., giant strains in excess of 4000%), their ability to be strain-conditioned enables huge anisotropic actuation levels, measured to be greater than 30 from the ratio of orthogonal actuation strains. This work establishes that crystallization-induced anisotropic actuation can be achieved with these DEs.