In this study,the hydrogels composites with coatings based on a temperature-sensitive linear copolymer of N-tert-butylacrylamide(NTBA)and acrylamide(AAm)on cotton fabrics have been developed.The cotton fabrics were co...In this study,the hydrogels composites with coatings based on a temperature-sensitive linear copolymer of N-tert-butylacrylamide(NTBA)and acrylamide(AAm)on cotton fabrics have been developed.The cotton fabrics were coated using aqueous solution of the linear copolymer,1,2,3,4-butanetertracarboxylic acid(BTCA)as a cross-linker and sodium hypophosphite(SHP)as a catalyst,followed by drying and curing.The effects of cross-linking reaction conditions in coating process on water-impermeable ability of coated cotton fabrics were investigated in detail.The results indicate that the coated fabrics have temperature sensitivity.The coatings of poly(NTBA-co-AAm)hydrogels were bonded on the surface of the cotton fabrics,as verified by SEM and optical microscopy,which gave the water-impermeable ability to the hydrogels composites.Moreover,the hydrogels formed in the coating process also identified that - COOH of BTCA reacted with -NH2 in the linear polymer and formed three-dimensional network hydrogels.FTIR and XPS were used to characterize the cross-linking reaction of - COOH of BTCA and - OH of cellulose.展开更多
A kind of novel copolymer hydrogel of poly（N, N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate-co-N-isopropylacrylamide） （poly[DMAEMA/NIPAAm]） was synthesized by the initiation of K2S2O8, N, N＇-methylene-bis（acrylamide） （Bis...A kind of novel copolymer hydrogel of poly（N, N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate-co-N-isopropylacrylamide） （poly[DMAEMA/NIPAAm]） was synthesized by the initiation of K2S2O8, N, N＇-methylene-bis（acrylamide） （Bis） was used as the crosslinker. The effects of monomer content, pH and temperature on swelling ratio of the hydrogel were investigated; the thermo-sensitivity in deionized water and in physiological saline was determined. It showed that the swelling ratio of the hydrogel could be changed by changing the temperature or pH alternately. Both swelling ratio and LCST （Lower Critical Solution Temperature） of the hydrogel decreased with the increase of NIPAAm in the co-polymer content.展开更多
Interfacial solar evaporation holds immense potential for brine desalination with low carbon footprints and high energy utilization.Hydrogels,as a tunable material platform from the molecular level to the macroscopic ...Interfacial solar evaporation holds immense potential for brine desalination with low carbon footprints and high energy utilization.Hydrogels,as a tunable material platform from the molecular level to the macroscopic scale,have been considered the most promising candidate for solar evaporation.However,the simultaneous achievement of high evaporation efficiency and satisfactory tolerance to salt ions in brine remains a challenging scientific bottleneck,restricting the widespread application.Herein,we report ionization engineering,which endows polymer chains of hydrogels with electronegativity for impeding salt ions and activating water molecules,fundamentally overcoming the hydrogel salt-impeded challenge and dramatically expediting water evaporating in brine.The sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate-modified carbon black is chosen as the solar absorbers.The hydrogel reaches a ground-breaking evaporation rate of 2.9 kg m−2 h−1 in 20 wt%brine with 95.6%efficiency under one sun irradiation,surpassing most of the reported literature.More notably,such a hydrogel-based evaporator enables extracting clean water from oversaturated salt solutions and maintains durability under different high-strength deformation or a 15-day continuous operation.Meantime,on the basis of the cation selectivity induced by the electronegativity,we first propose an all-day system that evaporates during the day and generates salinity-gradient electricity using waste-evaporated brine at night,anticipating pioneer a new opportunity for all-day resource-generating systems in fields of freshwater and electricity.展开更多
The ever-increasing complexity of environmental pollutants urgently warrants the development of new detection technologies.Sensors based on the optical properties of hydrogels enabling fast and easy in situ detection ...The ever-increasing complexity of environmental pollutants urgently warrants the development of new detection technologies.Sensors based on the optical properties of hydrogels enabling fast and easy in situ detection are attracting increasing attention.In this paper,the data from 138 papers about different optical hydrogels(OHs)are extracted for statistical analysis.The detection performance and potential of various types of OHs in different environmental pollutant detection scenarios were evaluated and compared to those obtained using the standard detection method.Based on this analysis,the target recognition and sensing mechanisms of two main types of OHs are reviewed and discussed:photonic crystal hydrogels(PCHs)and fluorescent hydrogels(FHs).For PCHs,the environmental stimulus response,target receptors,inverse opal structures,and molecular imprinting techniques related to PCHs are reviewed and summarized.Furthermore,the different types of fluorophores(i.e.,compound probes,biomacromolecules,quantum dots,and luminescent microbes)of FHs are discussed.Finally,the potential academic research directions to address the challenges of applying and developing OHs in environmental sensing are proposed,including the fusion of various OHs,introduction of the latest technologies in various fields to the construction of OHs,and development of multifunctional sensor arrays.展开更多
We developed a fluorescent double network hydrogel with ionic responsiveness and high mechanical properties for visual detection.The nanocomposite hydrogel of laponite and polyacrylamide serves as the first network,wh...We developed a fluorescent double network hydrogel with ionic responsiveness and high mechanical properties for visual detection.The nanocomposite hydrogel of laponite and polyacrylamide serves as the first network,while the ionic cross-linked hydrogel of terbium ions and sodium alginate serves as the second network.The double-network structure,the introduction of nanoparticles and the reversible ionic crosslinked interactions confer high mechanical properties to the hydrogel.Terbium ions are not only used as the ionic cross-linked points,but also used as green emitters to endow hydrogels with fluorescent properties.On the basis of the “antenna effect” of terbium ions and the ion exchange interaction,the fluorescence of the hydrogels can make selective responses to various ions(such as organic acid radical ions,transition metal ions) in aqueous solutions,which enables a convenient strategy for visual detection toward ions.Consequently,the fluorescent double network hydrogel fabricated in this study is promising for use in the field of visual sensor detection.展开更多
Dear Editor,Timely and effective hemostasis is of great significance for reducing body damage and mortality of patients [1]. Alginate is generally considered to be an excellent hemostatic polymer-based biomaterial and...Dear Editor,Timely and effective hemostasis is of great significance for reducing body damage and mortality of patients [1]. Alginate is generally considered to be an excellent hemostatic polymer-based biomaterial and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as Generally Recognized as Safe [2]. However, the violent crosslinking reaction and unstable structure at the wound site limit its clinical applications. Hence, we report a biocompatible and injectable composite hydrogel methacrylate alginate (Alg-AEMA)-based Eosin Y/N-phenylglycine (NPG)-initiated composite hydrogel (AEC) composed of photocrosslinkable alginate, viscosity modifiers and novel white light photoinitiator, namely Eosin Y/NPG system, for instant hemorrhage control.展开更多
Inflammatory skin disorders can cause chronic scarring and functional impairments,posing a significant burden on patients and the healthcare system.Conventional therapies,such as corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-...Inflammatory skin disorders can cause chronic scarring and functional impairments,posing a significant burden on patients and the healthcare system.Conventional therapies,such as corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,are limited in efficacy and associated with adverse effects.Recently,nanozyme(NZ)-based hydrogels have shown great promise in addressing these challenges.NZ-based hydrogels possess unique therapeutic abilities by combining the therapeutic benefits of redox nanomaterials with enzymatic activity and the water-retaining capacity of hydrogels.The multifaceted therapeutic effects of these hydrogels include scavenging reactive oxygen species and other inflammatory mediators modulating immune responses toward a pro-regenerative environment and enhancing regenerative potential by triggering cell migration and differentiation.This review highlights the current state of the art in NZ-engineered hydrogels(NZ@hydrogels)for anti-inflammatory and skin regeneration applications.It also discusses the underlying chemo-mechano-biological mechanisms behind their effectiveness.Additionally,the challenges and future directions in this ground,particularly their clinical translation,are addressed.The insights provided in this review can aid in the design and engineering of novel NZ-based hydrogels,offering new possibilities for targeted and personalized skin-care therapies.展开更多
Precision therapy has become the preferred choice attributed to the optimal drug concentration in target sites,increased therapeutic efficacy,and reduced adverse effects.Over the past few years,sprayable or injectable...Precision therapy has become the preferred choice attributed to the optimal drug concentration in target sites,increased therapeutic efficacy,and reduced adverse effects.Over the past few years,sprayable or injectable thermosensitive hydrogels have exhibited high therapeutic potential.These can be applied as cell-growing scaffolds or drug-releasing reservoirs by simply mixing in a free-flowing sol phase at room temperature.Inspired by their unique properties,thermosensitive hydrogels have been widely applied as drug delivery and treatment platforms for precision medicine.In this review,the state-of-theart developments in thermosensitive hydrogels for precision therapy are investigated,which covers from the thermo-gelling mechanisms and main components to biomedical applications,including wound healing,anti-tumor activity,osteogenesis,and periodontal,sinonasal and ophthalmic diseases.The most promising applications and trends of thermosensitive hydrogels for precision therapy are also discussed in light of their unique features.展开更多
Sulfated polysaccharides extracted from seaweeds,including Carrageenan,Fucoidan and Ulvan,are crucial bioactive compounds known for their diverse beneficial properties,such as anti-inflammatory,antitumor,immunomodulat...Sulfated polysaccharides extracted from seaweeds,including Carrageenan,Fucoidan and Ulvan,are crucial bioactive compounds known for their diverse beneficial properties,such as anti-inflammatory,antitumor,immunomodulatory,antiviral,and anticoagulant effects.These polysaccharides form hydrogels hold immense promise in biomedicine,particularly in tissue engineering,drug delivery systems and wound healing.This review comprehensively explores the sources and structural characteristics of the three important sulfated polysaccharides extracted from different algae species.It elucidates the gelation mechanisms of these polysaccharides into hydrogels.Furthermore,the biomedical applications of these three sulfated polysaccharide hydrogels in wound healing,drug delivery,and tissue engineering are discussed,highlighting their potential in the biomedicine.展开更多
Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA)is an autoimmune disorder that hinders the normal functioning of bones and joints and reduces the quality of human life.Every year,millions of people are diagnosed with RA worldwide,particularl...Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA)is an autoimmune disorder that hinders the normal functioning of bones and joints and reduces the quality of human life.Every year,millions of people are diagnosed with RA worldwide,particularly among elderly individuals and women.Therefore,there is a global need to develop new biomaterials,medicines and therapeutic methods for treating RA.This will improve the Healthcare Access and Quality Index and also relieve administrative and financial burdens on healthcare service providers at a global scale.Hydrogels are soft and cross-linked polymeric materials that can store a chunk of fluids,drugs and biomolecules for hydration and therapeutic applications.Hydrogels are biocompatible and exhibit excellent mechanical properties,such as providing elastic cushions to articulating joints by mimicking the natural synovial fluid.Hence,hydrogels create a natural biological environment within the synovial cavity to reduce autoimmune reactions and friction.Hydrogels also lubricate the articulating joint surfaces to prevent degradation of synovial surfaces of bones and cartilage,thus exhibiting high potential for treating RA.This work reviews the progress in injectable and implantable hydrogels,synthesis methods,types of drugs,advantages and challenges.Additionally,it discusses the role of hydrogels in targeted drug delivery,mechanistic behaviour and tribological performance for RA treatment.展开更多
Highly entangled hydrogels exhibit excellent mechanical properties,including high toughness,high stretchability,and low hysteresis.By considering the evolution of randomly distributed entanglements within the polymer ...Highly entangled hydrogels exhibit excellent mechanical properties,including high toughness,high stretchability,and low hysteresis.By considering the evolution of randomly distributed entanglements within the polymer network upon mechanical stretches,we develop a constitutive theory to describe the large stretch behaviors of these hydrogels.In the theory,we utilize a representative volume element(RVE)in the shape of a cube,within which there exists an averaged chain segment along each edge and a mobile entanglement at each corner.By employing an explicit method,we decouple the elasticity of the hydrogels from the sliding motion of their entanglements,and derive the stress-stretch relations for these hydrogels.The present theoretical analysis is in agreement with experiment,and highlights the significant influence of the entanglement distribution within the hydrogels on their elasticity.We also implement the present developed constitutive theory into a commercial finite element software,and the subsequent simulations demonstrate that the exact distribution of entanglements strongly affects the mechanical behaviors of the structures of these hydrogels.Overall,the present theory provides valuable insights into the deformation mechanism of highly entangled hydrogels,and can aid in the design of these hydrogels with enhanced performance.展开更多
Miniature devices comprising stimulus-responsive hydrogels with high environmental adaptability are now considered competitive candidates in the fields of biomedicine,precise sensors,and tunable optics.Reliable and ad...Miniature devices comprising stimulus-responsive hydrogels with high environmental adaptability are now considered competitive candidates in the fields of biomedicine,precise sensors,and tunable optics.Reliable and advanced fabricationmethods are critical formaximizing the application capabilities ofminiature devices.Light-based three-dimensional(3D)printing technology offers the advantages of a wide range of applicable materials,high processing accuracy,and strong 3D fabrication capability,which is suitable for the development of miniature devices with various functions.This paper summarizes and highlights the recent advances in light-based 3D-printed miniaturized devices,with a focus on the latest breakthroughs in lightbased fabrication technologies,smart stimulus-responsive hydrogels,and tunable miniature devices for the fields of miniature cargo manipulation,targeted drug and cell delivery,active scaffolds,environmental sensing,and optical imaging.Finally,the challenges in the transition of tunable miniaturized devices from the laboratory to practical engineering applications are presented.Future opportunities that will promote the development of tunable microdevices are elaborated,contributing to their improved understanding of these miniature devices and further realizing their practical applications in various fields.展开更多
In this work,the fabrication and characterization of the nanocomposite hydrogel,as a solid electrode in electro-chemical cell and gel electrolyte material using Indium titanium oxide/polyethylene terephthalate(ITO/PET...In this work,the fabrication and characterization of the nanocomposite hydrogel,as a solid electrode in electro-chemical cell and gel electrolyte material using Indium titanium oxide/polyethylene terephthalate(ITO/PET)flex-ible substrate for double-layer supercapacitors have been reported.The nanocomposite hydrogel composed of Arabic gum(AG),Acrylic acid(AA),reduced graphene oxide(RGO),and silver nanoparticles(AgNPs)was fab-ricated via a physical cross-linked polymerization reaction,in which the ascorbic acid was used as a reducing agent to generate AgNPs and to convert Graphene oxide(GO)to RGO during the polymerization reaction.The morphology and structural characteristics of nanocomposite hydrogel were investigated using atomic force microscopy(AFM),scanning electron microscope(SEM),Fourier transfer infrared(FTIR),and X-rayfluores-cence(XRF).Additionally,the effect of RGO and AgNPs on hydrogel stability was assessed through Thermogra-vimetric analysis(TGA)and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),while its mechanical properties were studied using the nanoindentation test.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS),and cyclic voltammetry(CV)were also conducted to study the electrochemical properties of the prepared hydrogel.The effects of AgNPs,RGO,and water content were all considered in the study of supercapacitor performance.The microstructural tests showed that the nanocomposite hydrogel has a relatively high swelling rate,which has a crucial effect on the capa-citance.Furthermore,the effects of increasing AgNP concentration and water content in the hydrogel matrix showed a significant improvement in its electrochemical performance,compared with that for Arabic gum poly acrylic acid(AGPAA)hydrogel itself,were the specific capacitance exhibited a significant enhancement,convert-ing from a low value to a substantially higher capacitance value.Moreover,when the nanocomposite hydrogel was used as the working electrode in an electrochemical cell with a hydrochloric acid(HCl)electrolyte solution,it exhibited good electrode performance.Additionally,using(ITO/PET)as aflexible substrate for nanocomposite hydrogel shows an improvement in their suitability for supercapacitor applications.Therefore,it is suggested that the fabricated hydrogel supercapacitor has potential applications in thefield of renewable and clean energy harvesting.展开更多
Soft tissue repair and regeneration present a significant clinical challenge.Soft hydrogels have emerged as a promising solution for promoting stem cell differentiation and facilitating soft tissue formation[1].Variou...Soft tissue repair and regeneration present a significant clinical challenge.Soft hydrogels have emerged as a promising solution for promoting stem cell differentiation and facilitating soft tissue formation[1].Various materials,including synthetic polymers like polydimethyl siloxane and natural polymers like proteins,have been be used as hydrogel matrix for hydrogel preparation[2,3].However,the limited biodegradability,inhomogeneous network structure,and inadequate mechanical properties of these hydrogels hinder their long-term application in complex environments in vivo.Inspired by the nanostructure of collagen fibrils,Li et al.developed a strategy for creating injectable nanofibrillar hydrogels by combining self-assembly and chemical crosslinking of nanoparticles[4].Moreover,injectable hydrogels offer advantages as implantable materials,including better defect filling and reduced risk of infection compared to prefabricated hydrogels[5].展开更多
Post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)is a psychiatric disease that seriously affects brain function.Currently,selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs)are used to treat PTSD clinically but have decreased efficienc...Post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)is a psychiatric disease that seriously affects brain function.Currently,selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs)are used to treat PTSD clinically but have decreased efficiency and increased side effects.In this study,nasal cannabidiol inclusion complex temperature-sensitive hydrogels(CBD TSGs)were prepared and evaluated to treat PTSD.Mice model of PTSD was established with conditional fear box.CBD TSGs could significantly improve the spontaneous behavior,exploratory spirit and alleviate tension in open field box,relieve anxiety and tension in elevated plus maze,and reduce the freezing time.Hematoxylin and eosin and c-FOS immunohistochemistry slides showed that the main injured brain areas in PTSD were the prefrontal cortex,amygdala,and hippocampus CA1.CBD TSGs could reduce the level of tumor necrosis factor-a caused by PTSD.Western blot analysis showed that CBD TSGs increased the expression of the 5-HT1 A receptor.Intranasal administration of CBD TSGs was more efficient and had more obvious brain targeting effects than oral administration,as evidenced by the pharmacokinetics and brain tissue distribution of CBD TSGs.Overall,nasal CBD TSGs are safe and effective and have controlled release.There are a novel promising option for the clinical treatment of PTSD.展开更多
Semi-interpenetrating （semi-IPNs） hydrogels containing biocompatible silk sericin （SS） and poly（N-isopropylacrylamide）（PNIPAM） were prepared as novel cellular matrices. Their maximum swelling degree and basic ...Semi-interpenetrating （semi-IPNs） hydrogels containing biocompatible silk sericin （SS） and poly（N-isopropylacrylamide）（PNIPAM） were prepared as novel cellular matrices. Their maximum swelling degree and basic characteristics for biomedical applications such as mouse ？broblasts （L929） cell proliferation and desorption were investigated. The results showed that the incorporation of high hydrophilic SS into PNIPAM hydrogel increased the maximum swelling degree of the semi-IPNs hydrogels, and the adhesion and growth of the L929 on semi-IPNs hydrogels were at least comparable to, or even better than, that on conventional PNIPAM hydrogel. In addition, L929 cells were found to detach from the hydrogels surface naturally by controlling environmental temperature. These results suggest great potential of semi-IPNs hydrogels in tissue engineering.展开更多
Hydrogels exhibit potential applications in smart wearable devices because of their exceptional sensitivity to various external stimuli.However,their applications are limited by challenges in terms of issues in biocom...Hydrogels exhibit potential applications in smart wearable devices because of their exceptional sensitivity to various external stimuli.However,their applications are limited by challenges in terms of issues in biocompatibility,custom shape,and self-healing.Herein,a conductive,stretchable,adaptable,self-healing,and biocompatible liquid metal GaInSn/Ni-based composite hydrogel is developed by incorporating a magnetic liquid metal into the hydrogel framework through crosslinking polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)with sodium tetraborate.The excellent stretchability and fast self-healing capability of the PVA/liquid metal hydrogel are derived from its abundant hydrogen binding sites and liquid metal fusion.Significantly,owing to the magnetic constituent,the PVA/liquid metal hydrogel can be guided remotely using an external magnetic field to a specific position to repair the broken wires with no need for manual operation.The composite hydrogel also exhibits sensitive deformation responses and can be used as a strain sensor to monitor various body motions.Additionally,the multifunctional hydrogel displays absorption-dominated electromagnetic interference(EMI)shielding properties.The total shielding performance of the composite hydrogel increases to~62.5 dB from~31.8 dB of the pure PVA hydrogel at the thickness of 3.0 mm.The proposed bioinspired multifunctional magnetic hydrogel demonstrates substantial application potential in the field of intelligent wearable devices.展开更多
Water can be used as oxidant in conjunction with metal particles to form metal-water propellant to increase the energy of propellant.For this application,water needs to be stored in form of solid and capable of becomi...Water can be used as oxidant in conjunction with metal particles to form metal-water propellant to increase the energy of propellant.For this application,water needs to be stored in form of solid and capable of becoming liquid when use.Stable and thixotropic hydrogel has good potential as water-retaining material and oxidant of metal-based propellant.In this study,we prepared organic/inorganic composite hydrogels by combining inorganic gellants hectorite and fumed silica with organic gellant agarose,respectively.The total content of the gellants can be reduced to less than 2%by adding agarose.The influence of agarose on water content,phase transition temperature,centrifugal stability and other basic physical properties of composite hydrogels were discussed.The results show that the composite hydrogels have better thixotropy and stability than pure inorganic hydrogels,and the gel-sol transformation can be realized by applying shear force or heating to the phase transition temperature.The composite hydrogels have good shear thinning ability and improved mechanical stability.Fumed silica/agarose hydrogels have better physical stability,while the thixotropy and shear thinning ability of hectorite/agarose hydrogels are better.展开更多
Osteoarthritis(OA)is the most common type of degenerative joint disease which affects 7%of the global population and more than 500 million people worldwide.One research frontier is the development of hydrogels for OA ...Osteoarthritis(OA)is the most common type of degenerative joint disease which affects 7%of the global population and more than 500 million people worldwide.One research frontier is the development of hydrogels for OA treatment,which operate either as functional scaffolds of tissue engineering or as delivery vehicles of functional additives.Both approaches address the big challenge:establishing stable integration of such delivery systems or implants.Adhesive hydrogels provide possible solutions to this challenge.However,few studies have described the current advances in using adhesive hydrogel for OA treatment.This review summarizes the commonly used hydrogels with their adhesion mechanisms and components.Additionally,recognizing that OA is a complex disease involving different biological mechanisms,the bioactive therapeutic strategies are also presented.By presenting the adhesive hydrogels in an interdisciplinary way,including both the fields of chemistry and biology,this review will attempt to provide a comprehensive insight for designing novel bioadhesive systems for OA therapy.展开更多
Lignin is the most abundant aromatic compound found in nature.The rich functional groups of lignin are responsible for its antibacterial,antioxidant,anti-ultraviolet,and biocompatible properties.As modified lignin has...Lignin is the most abundant aromatic compound found in nature.The rich functional groups of lignin are responsible for its antibacterial,antioxidant,anti-ultraviolet,and biocompatible properties.As modified lignin has a higher molecular weight,water solubility,and better surface activity,it is a good candidate for the construction of new biological materials.Ligninbased hydrogels are a type of functional materials with broad application prospects in the biomedical field.This review aimed to introduce the biological properties of lignin and the application of lignin-based hydrogels in the biological field.展开更多
基金Research Fund for the Doctoral Programof Higher Education of China(No.20050058006)
文摘In this study,the hydrogels composites with coatings based on a temperature-sensitive linear copolymer of N-tert-butylacrylamide(NTBA)and acrylamide(AAm)on cotton fabrics have been developed.The cotton fabrics were coated using aqueous solution of the linear copolymer,1,2,3,4-butanetertracarboxylic acid(BTCA)as a cross-linker and sodium hypophosphite(SHP)as a catalyst,followed by drying and curing.The effects of cross-linking reaction conditions in coating process on water-impermeable ability of coated cotton fabrics were investigated in detail.The results indicate that the coated fabrics have temperature sensitivity.The coatings of poly(NTBA-co-AAm)hydrogels were bonded on the surface of the cotton fabrics,as verified by SEM and optical microscopy,which gave the water-impermeable ability to the hydrogels composites.Moreover,the hydrogels formed in the coating process also identified that - COOH of BTCA reacted with -NH2 in the linear polymer and formed three-dimensional network hydrogels.FTIR and XPS were used to characterize the cross-linking reaction of - COOH of BTCA and - OH of cellulose.
文摘A kind of novel copolymer hydrogel of poly（N, N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate-co-N-isopropylacrylamide） （poly[DMAEMA/NIPAAm]） was synthesized by the initiation of K2S2O8, N, N＇-methylene-bis（acrylamide） （Bis） was used as the crosslinker. The effects of monomer content, pH and temperature on swelling ratio of the hydrogel were investigated; the thermo-sensitivity in deionized water and in physiological saline was determined. It showed that the swelling ratio of the hydrogel could be changed by changing the temperature or pH alternately. Both swelling ratio and LCST （Lower Critical Solution Temperature） of the hydrogel decreased with the increase of NIPAAm in the co-polymer content.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52076028).
文摘Interfacial solar evaporation holds immense potential for brine desalination with low carbon footprints and high energy utilization.Hydrogels,as a tunable material platform from the molecular level to the macroscopic scale,have been considered the most promising candidate for solar evaporation.However,the simultaneous achievement of high evaporation efficiency and satisfactory tolerance to salt ions in brine remains a challenging scientific bottleneck,restricting the widespread application.Herein,we report ionization engineering,which endows polymer chains of hydrogels with electronegativity for impeding salt ions and activating water molecules,fundamentally overcoming the hydrogel salt-impeded challenge and dramatically expediting water evaporating in brine.The sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate-modified carbon black is chosen as the solar absorbers.The hydrogel reaches a ground-breaking evaporation rate of 2.9 kg m−2 h−1 in 20 wt%brine with 95.6%efficiency under one sun irradiation,surpassing most of the reported literature.More notably,such a hydrogel-based evaporator enables extracting clean water from oversaturated salt solutions and maintains durability under different high-strength deformation or a 15-day continuous operation.Meantime,on the basis of the cation selectivity induced by the electronegativity,we first propose an all-day system that evaporates during the day and generates salinity-gradient electricity using waste-evaporated brine at night,anticipating pioneer a new opportunity for all-day resource-generating systems in fields of freshwater and electricity.
基金supported by the China National Natural Science Foundation(No.2212260192043301+1 种基金91843301)the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality(20ZR1404300 and 212307128)
文摘The ever-increasing complexity of environmental pollutants urgently warrants the development of new detection technologies.Sensors based on the optical properties of hydrogels enabling fast and easy in situ detection are attracting increasing attention.In this paper,the data from 138 papers about different optical hydrogels(OHs)are extracted for statistical analysis.The detection performance and potential of various types of OHs in different environmental pollutant detection scenarios were evaluated and compared to those obtained using the standard detection method.Based on this analysis,the target recognition and sensing mechanisms of two main types of OHs are reviewed and discussed:photonic crystal hydrogels(PCHs)and fluorescent hydrogels(FHs).For PCHs,the environmental stimulus response,target receptors,inverse opal structures,and molecular imprinting techniques related to PCHs are reviewed and summarized.Furthermore,the different types of fluorophores(i.e.,compound probes,biomacromolecules,quantum dots,and luminescent microbes)of FHs are discussed.Finally,the potential academic research directions to address the challenges of applying and developing OHs in environmental sensing are proposed,including the fusion of various OHs,introduction of the latest technologies in various fields to the construction of OHs,and development of multifunctional sensor arrays.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51873167)the National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students(No.226801001)。
文摘We developed a fluorescent double network hydrogel with ionic responsiveness and high mechanical properties for visual detection.The nanocomposite hydrogel of laponite and polyacrylamide serves as the first network,while the ionic cross-linked hydrogel of terbium ions and sodium alginate serves as the second network.The double-network structure,the introduction of nanoparticles and the reversible ionic crosslinked interactions confer high mechanical properties to the hydrogel.Terbium ions are not only used as the ionic cross-linked points,but also used as green emitters to endow hydrogels with fluorescent properties.On the basis of the “antenna effect” of terbium ions and the ion exchange interaction,the fluorescence of the hydrogels can make selective responses to various ions(such as organic acid radical ions,transition metal ions) in aqueous solutions,which enables a convenient strategy for visual detection toward ions.Consequently,the fluorescent double network hydrogel fabricated in this study is promising for use in the field of visual sensor detection.
基金National Key Research and Development Program(2022YFA1104604,2017YFC1103303)Science Fund for National Defense Distinguished Young Scholars(2022-JCJQ-ZQ-016)+2 种基金National Nature Science Foundation of China(32000969,82002056,92268206)Military Medical Research Projects(145AKJ260015000X,2022-JCJQ-ZD-096-00)Key Support Program for Growth Factor Research(SZYZ-TR-03).
文摘Dear Editor,Timely and effective hemostasis is of great significance for reducing body damage and mortality of patients [1]. Alginate is generally considered to be an excellent hemostatic polymer-based biomaterial and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as Generally Recognized as Safe [2]. However, the violent crosslinking reaction and unstable structure at the wound site limit its clinical applications. Hence, we report a biocompatible and injectable composite hydrogel methacrylate alginate (Alg-AEMA)-based Eosin Y/N-phenylglycine (NPG)-initiated composite hydrogel (AEC) composed of photocrosslinkable alginate, viscosity modifiers and novel white light photoinitiator, namely Eosin Y/NPG system, for instant hemorrhage control.
基金supported by the grants from National Research Foundation(NRF,#2021R1A5A2022318,#RS-2023-00220408,#RS-2023-00247485),Republic of Korea.
文摘Inflammatory skin disorders can cause chronic scarring and functional impairments,posing a significant burden on patients and the healthcare system.Conventional therapies,such as corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,are limited in efficacy and associated with adverse effects.Recently,nanozyme(NZ)-based hydrogels have shown great promise in addressing these challenges.NZ-based hydrogels possess unique therapeutic abilities by combining the therapeutic benefits of redox nanomaterials with enzymatic activity and the water-retaining capacity of hydrogels.The multifaceted therapeutic effects of these hydrogels include scavenging reactive oxygen species and other inflammatory mediators modulating immune responses toward a pro-regenerative environment and enhancing regenerative potential by triggering cell migration and differentiation.This review highlights the current state of the art in NZ-engineered hydrogels(NZ@hydrogels)for anti-inflammatory and skin regeneration applications.It also discusses the underlying chemo-mechano-biological mechanisms behind their effectiveness.Additionally,the challenges and future directions in this ground,particularly their clinical translation,are addressed.The insights provided in this review can aid in the design and engineering of novel NZ-based hydrogels,offering new possibilities for targeted and personalized skin-care therapies.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grants 52172276)fund from Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine(2021zhyx-B15)。
文摘Precision therapy has become the preferred choice attributed to the optimal drug concentration in target sites,increased therapeutic efficacy,and reduced adverse effects.Over the past few years,sprayable or injectable thermosensitive hydrogels have exhibited high therapeutic potential.These can be applied as cell-growing scaffolds or drug-releasing reservoirs by simply mixing in a free-flowing sol phase at room temperature.Inspired by their unique properties,thermosensitive hydrogels have been widely applied as drug delivery and treatment platforms for precision medicine.In this review,the state-of-theart developments in thermosensitive hydrogels for precision therapy are investigated,which covers from the thermo-gelling mechanisms and main components to biomedical applications,including wound healing,anti-tumor activity,osteogenesis,and periodontal,sinonasal and ophthalmic diseases.The most promising applications and trends of thermosensitive hydrogels for precision therapy are also discussed in light of their unique features.
基金funded by the Shandong Provincial Key Research and Development Program(No.2019GSF107031).
文摘Sulfated polysaccharides extracted from seaweeds,including Carrageenan,Fucoidan and Ulvan,are crucial bioactive compounds known for their diverse beneficial properties,such as anti-inflammatory,antitumor,immunomodulatory,antiviral,and anticoagulant effects.These polysaccharides form hydrogels hold immense promise in biomedicine,particularly in tissue engineering,drug delivery systems and wound healing.This review comprehensively explores the sources and structural characteristics of the three important sulfated polysaccharides extracted from different algae species.It elucidates the gelation mechanisms of these polysaccharides into hydrogels.Furthermore,the biomedical applications of these three sulfated polysaccharide hydrogels in wound healing,drug delivery,and tissue engineering are discussed,highlighting their potential in the biomedicine.
基金supported by grant#SZ-SZSTI2010 by the Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Committee(SZSTI),Guang Dong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2022B1515130010)Hong Kong Research Grant Council(RGC)funding projects(GRF#16308818,GRF#16309920,and GRF#16309421)Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Commission(HKITC)funding project(MHP/003/19).
文摘Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA)is an autoimmune disorder that hinders the normal functioning of bones and joints and reduces the quality of human life.Every year,millions of people are diagnosed with RA worldwide,particularly among elderly individuals and women.Therefore,there is a global need to develop new biomaterials,medicines and therapeutic methods for treating RA.This will improve the Healthcare Access and Quality Index and also relieve administrative and financial burdens on healthcare service providers at a global scale.Hydrogels are soft and cross-linked polymeric materials that can store a chunk of fluids,drugs and biomolecules for hydration and therapeutic applications.Hydrogels are biocompatible and exhibit excellent mechanical properties,such as providing elastic cushions to articulating joints by mimicking the natural synovial fluid.Hence,hydrogels create a natural biological environment within the synovial cavity to reduce autoimmune reactions and friction.Hydrogels also lubricate the articulating joint surfaces to prevent degradation of synovial surfaces of bones and cartilage,thus exhibiting high potential for treating RA.This work reviews the progress in injectable and implantable hydrogels,synthesis methods,types of drugs,advantages and challenges.Additionally,it discusses the role of hydrogels in targeted drug delivery,mechanistic behaviour and tribological performance for RA treatment.
基金Project supported by the Key Research Project of Zhejiang Laboratory (No.K2022NB0AC03)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.11872334)the National Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province of China (No.LZ23A020004)。
文摘Highly entangled hydrogels exhibit excellent mechanical properties,including high toughness,high stretchability,and low hysteresis.By considering the evolution of randomly distributed entanglements within the polymer network upon mechanical stretches,we develop a constitutive theory to describe the large stretch behaviors of these hydrogels.In the theory,we utilize a representative volume element(RVE)in the shape of a cube,within which there exists an averaged chain segment along each edge and a mobile entanglement at each corner.By employing an explicit method,we decouple the elasticity of the hydrogels from the sliding motion of their entanglements,and derive the stress-stretch relations for these hydrogels.The present theoretical analysis is in agreement with experiment,and highlights the significant influence of the entanglement distribution within the hydrogels on their elasticity.We also implement the present developed constitutive theory into a commercial finite element software,and the subsequent simulations demonstrate that the exact distribution of entanglements strongly affects the mechanical behaviors of the structures of these hydrogels.Overall,the present theory provides valuable insights into the deformation mechanism of highly entangled hydrogels,and can aid in the design of these hydrogels with enhanced performance.
基金financially supported by the Research Impact Fund (project no. R4015-21)Research Fellow Scheme (project no. RFS2122-4S03)+3 种基金Strategic Topics Grant (project no. STG1/E-401/23- N) from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC)the CUHK internal grantsthe support from Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Centre (MRC),InnoHK, at the Hong Kong Science Parkthe SIAT–CUHK Joint Laboratory of Robotics and Intelligent Systems
文摘Miniature devices comprising stimulus-responsive hydrogels with high environmental adaptability are now considered competitive candidates in the fields of biomedicine,precise sensors,and tunable optics.Reliable and advanced fabricationmethods are critical formaximizing the application capabilities ofminiature devices.Light-based three-dimensional(3D)printing technology offers the advantages of a wide range of applicable materials,high processing accuracy,and strong 3D fabrication capability,which is suitable for the development of miniature devices with various functions.This paper summarizes and highlights the recent advances in light-based 3D-printed miniaturized devices,with a focus on the latest breakthroughs in lightbased fabrication technologies,smart stimulus-responsive hydrogels,and tunable miniature devices for the fields of miniature cargo manipulation,targeted drug and cell delivery,active scaffolds,environmental sensing,and optical imaging.Finally,the challenges in the transition of tunable miniaturized devices from the laboratory to practical engineering applications are presented.Future opportunities that will promote the development of tunable microdevices are elaborated,contributing to their improved understanding of these miniature devices and further realizing their practical applications in various fields.
基金The authors are grateful for the Jordan University of Science and Technology’s financial support for this research.This research was conducted under Grant No.20230333.
文摘In this work,the fabrication and characterization of the nanocomposite hydrogel,as a solid electrode in electro-chemical cell and gel electrolyte material using Indium titanium oxide/polyethylene terephthalate(ITO/PET)flex-ible substrate for double-layer supercapacitors have been reported.The nanocomposite hydrogel composed of Arabic gum(AG),Acrylic acid(AA),reduced graphene oxide(RGO),and silver nanoparticles(AgNPs)was fab-ricated via a physical cross-linked polymerization reaction,in which the ascorbic acid was used as a reducing agent to generate AgNPs and to convert Graphene oxide(GO)to RGO during the polymerization reaction.The morphology and structural characteristics of nanocomposite hydrogel were investigated using atomic force microscopy(AFM),scanning electron microscope(SEM),Fourier transfer infrared(FTIR),and X-rayfluores-cence(XRF).Additionally,the effect of RGO and AgNPs on hydrogel stability was assessed through Thermogra-vimetric analysis(TGA)and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),while its mechanical properties were studied using the nanoindentation test.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS),and cyclic voltammetry(CV)were also conducted to study the electrochemical properties of the prepared hydrogel.The effects of AgNPs,RGO,and water content were all considered in the study of supercapacitor performance.The microstructural tests showed that the nanocomposite hydrogel has a relatively high swelling rate,which has a crucial effect on the capa-citance.Furthermore,the effects of increasing AgNP concentration and water content in the hydrogel matrix showed a significant improvement in its electrochemical performance,compared with that for Arabic gum poly acrylic acid(AGPAA)hydrogel itself,were the specific capacitance exhibited a significant enhancement,convert-ing from a low value to a substantially higher capacitance value.Moreover,when the nanocomposite hydrogel was used as the working electrode in an electrochemical cell with a hydrochloric acid(HCl)electrolyte solution,it exhibited good electrode performance.Additionally,using(ITO/PET)as aflexible substrate for nanocomposite hydrogel shows an improvement in their suitability for supercapacitor applications.Therefore,it is suggested that the fabricated hydrogel supercapacitor has potential applications in thefield of renewable and clean energy harvesting.
文摘Soft tissue repair and regeneration present a significant clinical challenge.Soft hydrogels have emerged as a promising solution for promoting stem cell differentiation and facilitating soft tissue formation[1].Various materials,including synthetic polymers like polydimethyl siloxane and natural polymers like proteins,have been be used as hydrogel matrix for hydrogel preparation[2,3].However,the limited biodegradability,inhomogeneous network structure,and inadequate mechanical properties of these hydrogels hinder their long-term application in complex environments in vivo.Inspired by the nanostructure of collagen fibrils,Li et al.developed a strategy for creating injectable nanofibrillar hydrogels by combining self-assembly and chemical crosslinking of nanoparticles[4].Moreover,injectable hydrogels offer advantages as implantable materials,including better defect filling and reduced risk of infection compared to prefabricated hydrogels[5].
基金funded by the Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation,China(7202147 and 7172072,China)
文摘Post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)is a psychiatric disease that seriously affects brain function.Currently,selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs)are used to treat PTSD clinically but have decreased efficiency and increased side effects.In this study,nasal cannabidiol inclusion complex temperature-sensitive hydrogels(CBD TSGs)were prepared and evaluated to treat PTSD.Mice model of PTSD was established with conditional fear box.CBD TSGs could significantly improve the spontaneous behavior,exploratory spirit and alleviate tension in open field box,relieve anxiety and tension in elevated plus maze,and reduce the freezing time.Hematoxylin and eosin and c-FOS immunohistochemistry slides showed that the main injured brain areas in PTSD were the prefrontal cortex,amygdala,and hippocampus CA1.CBD TSGs could reduce the level of tumor necrosis factor-a caused by PTSD.Western blot analysis showed that CBD TSGs increased the expression of the 5-HT1 A receptor.Intranasal administration of CBD TSGs was more efficient and had more obvious brain targeting effects than oral administration,as evidenced by the pharmacokinetics and brain tissue distribution of CBD TSGs.Overall,nasal CBD TSGs are safe and effective and have controlled release.There are a novel promising option for the clinical treatment of PTSD.
文摘Semi-interpenetrating （semi-IPNs） hydrogels containing biocompatible silk sericin （SS） and poly（N-isopropylacrylamide）（PNIPAM） were prepared as novel cellular matrices. Their maximum swelling degree and basic characteristics for biomedical applications such as mouse ？broblasts （L929） cell proliferation and desorption were investigated. The results showed that the incorporation of high hydrophilic SS into PNIPAM hydrogel increased the maximum swelling degree of the semi-IPNs hydrogels, and the adhesion and growth of the L929 on semi-IPNs hydrogels were at least comparable to, or even better than, that on conventional PNIPAM hydrogel. In addition, L929 cells were found to detach from the hydrogels surface naturally by controlling environmental temperature. These results suggest great potential of semi-IPNs hydrogels in tissue engineering.
基金the financial supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52231007,51725101,11727807,22088101,52271167)the Shanghai Excellent Academic/Technological Leaders Program(19XD1400400)+4 种基金the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(973 Project Nos.2018YFA0209100 and 2021YFA1200600)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2022JCCXHH09)the Foundation for University Youth Key Teachers of Henan Province(2020GGJS170)the Support Program for Scientific and Technological Innovation Talents of Higher Education in Henan Province(21HASTIT004)Key Research Project of Zhejiang Lab(No.2021PE0AC02)。
文摘Hydrogels exhibit potential applications in smart wearable devices because of their exceptional sensitivity to various external stimuli.However,their applications are limited by challenges in terms of issues in biocompatibility,custom shape,and self-healing.Herein,a conductive,stretchable,adaptable,self-healing,and biocompatible liquid metal GaInSn/Ni-based composite hydrogel is developed by incorporating a magnetic liquid metal into the hydrogel framework through crosslinking polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)with sodium tetraborate.The excellent stretchability and fast self-healing capability of the PVA/liquid metal hydrogel are derived from its abundant hydrogen binding sites and liquid metal fusion.Significantly,owing to the magnetic constituent,the PVA/liquid metal hydrogel can be guided remotely using an external magnetic field to a specific position to repair the broken wires with no need for manual operation.The composite hydrogel also exhibits sensitive deformation responses and can be used as a strain sensor to monitor various body motions.Additionally,the multifunctional hydrogel displays absorption-dominated electromagnetic interference(EMI)shielding properties.The total shielding performance of the composite hydrogel increases to~62.5 dB from~31.8 dB of the pure PVA hydrogel at the thickness of 3.0 mm.The proposed bioinspired multifunctional magnetic hydrogel demonstrates substantial application potential in the field of intelligent wearable devices.
基金the Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations for financial support。
文摘Water can be used as oxidant in conjunction with metal particles to form metal-water propellant to increase the energy of propellant.For this application,water needs to be stored in form of solid and capable of becoming liquid when use.Stable and thixotropic hydrogel has good potential as water-retaining material and oxidant of metal-based propellant.In this study,we prepared organic/inorganic composite hydrogels by combining inorganic gellants hectorite and fumed silica with organic gellant agarose,respectively.The total content of the gellants can be reduced to less than 2%by adding agarose.The influence of agarose on water content,phase transition temperature,centrifugal stability and other basic physical properties of composite hydrogels were discussed.The results show that the composite hydrogels have better thixotropy and stability than pure inorganic hydrogels,and the gel-sol transformation can be realized by applying shear force or heating to the phase transition temperature.The composite hydrogels have good shear thinning ability and improved mechanical stability.Fumed silica/agarose hydrogels have better physical stability,while the thixotropy and shear thinning ability of hectorite/agarose hydrogels are better.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52103184, 82102593)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (XJ2021051, 2020TQ0129, 2021M693960)+3 种基金the"Young Talent Support Plan"and Funding for Basic Scientific Research of Xi’an Jiaotong Universitysupported by a Grant from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund (13/RC/2073_P2)the funds received from European Union Horizon 2020 Programme (H2020-MSCA-IF-2017) under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (797716).
文摘Osteoarthritis(OA)is the most common type of degenerative joint disease which affects 7%of the global population and more than 500 million people worldwide.One research frontier is the development of hydrogels for OA treatment,which operate either as functional scaffolds of tissue engineering or as delivery vehicles of functional additives.Both approaches address the big challenge:establishing stable integration of such delivery systems or implants.Adhesive hydrogels provide possible solutions to this challenge.However,few studies have described the current advances in using adhesive hydrogel for OA treatment.This review summarizes the commonly used hydrogels with their adhesion mechanisms and components.Additionally,recognizing that OA is a complex disease involving different biological mechanisms,the bioactive therapeutic strategies are also presented.By presenting the adhesive hydrogels in an interdisciplinary way,including both the fields of chemistry and biology,this review will attempt to provide a comprehensive insight for designing novel bioadhesive systems for OA therapy.
基金the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32171717)the Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program(YESS20200389).
文摘Lignin is the most abundant aromatic compound found in nature.The rich functional groups of lignin are responsible for its antibacterial,antioxidant,anti-ultraviolet,and biocompatible properties.As modified lignin has a higher molecular weight,water solubility,and better surface activity,it is a good candidate for the construction of new biological materials.Ligninbased hydrogels are a type of functional materials with broad application prospects in the biomedical field.This review aimed to introduce the biological properties of lignin and the application of lignin-based hydrogels in the biological field.
