Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Noncovalent Attractions in Biomolecules

Noncovalent Attractions in Biomolecules

Noncovalent attractions are associations within and between molecules that influence the shape and structural stability of complexes. These interactions differ from covalent bonding in that they do not involve sharing of electrons.
Four types of noncovalent interactions are hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, ionic bonds, and hydrophobic interactions.
Hydrogen bonding results from the electrostatic attraction of a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a strong-electronegative atom like oxygen,...

Noncovalent Attractions in Biomolecules

Noncovalent Attractions in Biomolecules

Noncovalent attractions are associations within and between molecules that influence the shape and structural stability of complexes. These interactions differ from covalent bonding in that they do not involve sharing of electrons.
Four types of noncovalent interactions are hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, ionic bonds, and hydrophobic interactions.
Hydrogen bonding results from the electrostatic attraction of a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a strong-electronegative atom like oxygen,...

Intermolecular Forces and Physical Properties

Intermolecular Forces and Physical Properties

Cohesion

Cohesion

Cohesion is the attraction between molecules of the same type, such as water molecules. Water molecules have an overall neutral charge but are polar molecule. An oxygen atom in one water molecule has a partial negative charge that can bind to a hydrogen atom with a partial positive charge in a second water molecule, forming a hydrogen bond. Each water molecule can form up to four hydrogen bonds with other water molecules. Hydrogen bonds are responsible for water's cohesive nature.
On a surface,...

Aqueous Solutions and Heats of Hydration

Aqueous Solutions and Heats of Hydration

Water and other polar molecules are attracted to ions. The electrostatic attraction between an ion and a molecule with a dipole is called an ion-dipole attraction. These attractions play an important role in the dissolution of ionic compounds in water.
When ionic compounds dissolve in water, the ions in the solid separate and disperse uniformly throughout the solution because water molecules surround and solvate the ions, reducing the strong electrostatic forces between them. This process...

Covalent Bonds

Covalent Bonds

Overview
When two atoms share electrons to complete their valence shells, they create a covalent bond. An atom's electronegativity—the force with which shared electrons are pulled towards an atom—determines how the electrons are shared. Molecules formed with covalent bonds can be either polar or nonpolar. Atoms with similar electronegativities form nonpolar covalent bonds; the electrons are shared equally. Atoms with different electronegativities share electrons unequally, creating polar bonds.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Molecular and Antiangiogenic Effects of Paclitaxel-Loaded Nanoparticles: Influence of the Nanocarrier Type.

Molecular pharmaceutics·2026

Same author

Loading of therapeutic cell penetrating peptides into extracellular vesicles for pulmonary fibrosis.

Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society·2025

Same author

Disturbed flow induces reprogramming of endothelial cells to immune-like and foam cells under hypercholesterolaemia during atherogenesis.

Cardiovascular research·2025

Same author

Laminin-Functionalized Gelatin Microgels for the Generation of Functional Neurons from Neural Progenitor Cells.

ACS biomaterials science & engineering·2025

Same author

Chondrogenic and chondroprotective response of composite collagen I/II-hyaluronic acid scaffolds within an inflammatory osteoarthritic environment.

Biomaterials science·2025

Same author

Sepia Melanin for the Local Deactivation of Matrix Metalloproteinases.

ACS macro letters·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Force-Clamp Rheometry for Characterizing Protein-based Hydrogels

Force-Clamp Rheometry for Characterizing Protein-based Hydrogels

Published on: August 21, 2018

Interplay between covalent and physical interactions within environment sensitive hydrogels.

Kyung Jae Jeong¹, Alyssa Panitch

¹Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering and School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906, USA.

Biomacromolecules

|March 24, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Combining physical and covalent crosslinks in hydrogels creates materials that respond to stimuli. Covalent crosslinks enhance physical interactions, improving mechanical properties and enabling reversible responses crucial for tissue engineering.

More Related Videos

Patterning Bioactive Proteins or Peptides on Hydrogel Using Photochemistry for Biological Applications

Patterning Bioactive Proteins or Peptides on Hydrogel Using Photochemistry for Biological Applications

Published on: September 15, 2017

Easy Manipulation of Architectures in Protein-based Hydrogels for Cell Culture Applications

Easy Manipulation of Architectures in Protein-based Hydrogels for Cell Culture Applications

Published on: August 4, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Force-Clamp Rheometry for Characterizing Protein-based Hydrogels

Force-Clamp Rheometry for Characterizing Protein-based Hydrogels

Published on: August 21, 2018

Patterning Bioactive Proteins or Peptides on Hydrogel Using Photochemistry for Biological Applications

Patterning Bioactive Proteins or Peptides on Hydrogel Using Photochemistry for Biological Applications

Published on: September 15, 2017

Easy Manipulation of Architectures in Protein-based Hydrogels for Cell Culture Applications

Easy Manipulation of Architectures in Protein-based Hydrogels for Cell Culture Applications

Published on: August 4, 2017

Area of Science:

Biomaterials Science
Polymer Chemistry
Materials Engineering

Background:

Hydrogels are critical in tissue engineering, with mechanical properties influenced by crosslinking.
Understanding the interplay of physical and covalent crosslinks is key to designing advanced biomaterials.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the combined effects of physical and covalent crosslinks on poly(ethyleneglycol)-based hydrogel mechanics.
To elucidate the mechanisms by which crosslink types influence hydrogel properties and responsiveness.

Main Methods:

Synthesized eight-arm poly(ethyleneglycol) hydrogels with varying crosslink types.
Utilized heparin and heparin-binding peptide for physical crosslinking.
Employed enzymatically cleavable peptides for covalent crosslinking.
Characterized mechanical properties using rheology and Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM).

Main Results:

Physical crosslinks alone did not induce gelation; covalent crosslinks were necessary for gel formation.
Combined crosslinking significantly enhanced shear moduli and enabled reversible responses to temperature and shear.
Covalent crosslinks increased stress relaxation time, allowing physical interactions to contribute to moduli.
Macromolecular confinement within the covalent network enhanced physical interactions.

Conclusions:

The synergistic effect of physical and covalent crosslinks creates tunable hydrogel properties.
Enhanced physical interactions and responsiveness have implications for mimicking extracellular matrix behavior.
Findings support the development of advanced hydrogels for tissue engineering and cell biology applications.