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Solvent-non-solvent rapid-injection for preparing nanostructured materials from micelles to hydrogels
Chao Lang1,2, Jacob A LaNasa1, Nyalaliska Utomo1
1Department of Materials Science & Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
Nature Communications
|August 28, 2019
Summary
Researchers developed a rapid-injection method to create advanced ABA triblock copolymer nanostructures. This technique yields superior hydrogels for applications in drug delivery and soft robotics.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Science
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- ABA triblock copolymers self-assemble into nanostructures in selective solvents.
- Focus has been on equilibrium self-assembly, neglecting non-equilibrium processing.
- Control over non-equilibrium nanostructure formation is crucial for advanced materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a universal and quantitative method for fabricating ABA triblock copolymer hierarchical structures.
- To explore non-equilibrium processing conditions for controlled nanostructure formation.
- To investigate the properties of hydrogels formed via rapid-injection processing.
Main Methods:
- Utilized solvent-non-solvent rapid-injection processing.
- Fabricated plasmonic nanocomposite hydrogels with gold nanoparticles.
- Created hierarchically-ordered hydrogels exhibiting structural color.
Main Results:
- Achieved rapid assembly (within one minute) of complex hydrogel nanostructures.
- Demonstrated control over hierarchical structure formation using rapid-injection.
- Observed superior mechanical properties in rapid-injection hydrogels compared to conventional ones.
Conclusions:
- Rapid-injection processing offers a versatile method for controlled ABA triblock copolymer self-assembly.
- This technique enables the rapid fabrication of advanced hydrogels with enhanced mechanical properties.
- The findings have significant implications for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and soft robotics.
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