Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 25, 2025
Injectable Supramolecular Polymer-Nanoparticle Hydrogels for Cell and Drug Delivery Applications
Published on: February 7, 2021
Marrying the incompatible for better: Incorporation of hydrophobic payloads in superhydrophilic hydrogels
Supissra Boon-In1, Man Theerasilp1, Daniel Crespy1
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Molecular Science and Engineering, Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC), Rayong 21210, Thailand.
Hypothesis:
The entrapment of lyophobic in superhydrophilic hydrogels is challenging because of the intrinsic incompatibility between hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules. To achieve such entrapment without affecting the hydrogel's formation, the electrospinning of nanodroplets or nanoparticles with a water-soluble polymer could reduce the incompatibility through the reduction of interfacial tension and the formation of a barrier film preventing coalescence or aggregation.
Experiments:
Nanodroplets or nanoparticles dispersion are electrospun in the presence of a hydrophilic polymer in hydrogel precursors. The dissolution of the hydrophilic nanofibers during electrospinning allows a redispersion of emulsion droplets and nanoparticles in the hydrogel's matrix.
Findings:
Superhydrophilic hydrogels with well-distributed hydrophobic nanodroplets or nanoparticles are obtained without detrimentally imparting the viscosity of hydrogel's precursors and the mechanical properties of the hydrogels. Compared with the incorporation of droplets without electrospinning, higher loadings of hydrophobic payload are achieved without premature leakage. This concept can be used to entrap hydrophobic agrochemicals, drugs, or antibacterial agents in simple hydrogels formulation.
