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Preparation of Chitosan-based Injectable Hydrogels and Its Application in 3D Cell Culture
Published on: September 29, 2017
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Bio-inspired layered chitosan/graphene oxide nanocomposite hydrogels with high strength and pH-driven shape memory
Yaqian Zhang1, Min Zhang1, Haoyang Jiang1
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, PR China.
Carbohydrate Polymers
|October 1, 2017
Summary
Researchers developed layered chitosan (CS) and graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposite hydrogel films. These films mimic natural cartilage, showing remarkable mechanical strength and a pH-responsive shape memory effect.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Chitosan (CS) and graphene oxide (GO) are versatile biomaterials with potential in advanced applications.
- Developing nanocomposite hydrogels with enhanced mechanical properties and stimuli-responsive behaviors is a key research area.
- Biomimetic materials that replicate natural structures, like nacre, offer superior performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate layered nanocomposite hydrogel films using chitosan and graphene oxide.
- To investigate the microstructure, mechanical properties, and shape memory effect of the developed CS/GO hydrogel films.
- To understand the underlying mechanisms responsible for the observed properties, particularly the pH-driven shape memory behavior.
Main Methods:
- Water evaporation-induced self-assembly was employed for film preparation.
- Physical cross-linking in an alkaline solution was used to stabilize the hydrogel structure.
- Mechanical testing (tensile strength, elongation at break) and shape memory effect evaluation under varying pH conditions were performed.
Main Results:
- Layered CS/GO hydrogel films with a nacre-like, brick-and-mortar microstructure were successfully synthesized.
- The hydrogel films exhibited excellent mechanical properties, with tensile strength of 5.35 MPa and elongation at break of 193.5% (at 5wt% GO), comparable to natural cartilage.
- A distinct pH-driven shape memory effect was observed, attributed to reversible changes in hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions.
Conclusions:
- The developed CS/GO nanocomposite hydrogel films possess biomimetic microstructures and outstanding mechanical performance.
- The pH-responsive shape memory effect offers potential for smart material applications.
- This study demonstrates a promising approach for creating advanced hydrogel materials with tunable properties for various applications.
