Chain-like One-Dimensional Assembly of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: An Approach To Improve Hydrogel Adhesion

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) show promise for hydrogel and tissue adhesion.
• Capping agent removal for MSNPs causes aggregation, reducing adhesive strength in wet environments.
• Bridging adherends effectively is crucial for strong adhesion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize mesoporous silica nanochains (MSNCs) for enhanced hydrogel interaction.
• To investigate the impact of MSNCs' unique structure on adhesion properties.
• To evaluate MSNCs as advanced hydrogel adhesives for wet tissue-like conditions.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized MSNCs by removing capping ligands from MSNPs.
• Quantified porous areas using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image analysis.
• Assessed adhesion energies of MSNCs and MSNPs on poly(dimethylacrylamide) hydrogel via universal testing.

Main Results:

• MSNCs demonstrated higher maximum adhesion energy (13.7 J/m²) than MSNPs (10.9 J/m²).
• MSNCs maintained strong adhesion (13.4 J/m²) at high concentrations (9 wt %), unlike MSNPs (8.2 J/m²).
• The nanochain structure promoted coarser formations and increased nanopore exposure.

Conclusions:

• MSNCs exhibit superior adhesive properties compared to MSNPs, especially in wet conditions.
• The one-dimensional assembly of MSNCs enhances interactions with hydrogels.
• MSNCs show significant potential as advanced adhesives for challenging wet tissue environments.