Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
08:46
Studying Age-dependent Genomic Instability using the S. cerevisiae Chronological Lifespan Model
Published on: September 29, 2011
16.0K
Real-space observation of salt-dependent aging in LAPONITE® gels
Shunichi Saito1, Sooyeon Kim2, Yuichi Taniguchi2,3,4
1Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. saito-shunichi501@g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
Soft Matter
|September 23, 2025
Summary
Colloidal gel aging is influenced by salt concentration, leading to earlier structural changes and smaller aggregates at higher concentrations. The gel exhibits distinct liquid-like and gel-like regions with nanoscale heterogeneities.
Area of Science:
- Colloid and Surface Science
- Materials Science
- Soft Matter Physics
Background:
- Colloidal gels undergo structural reorganization during aging, impacting their properties.
- Understanding gel aging is crucial for applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the aging process of low-concentration LAPONITE® suspensions.
- To determine the effect of varying salt concentrations on colloidal gel structure and dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Fluorescence microscopy
- Scattering imaging
- Particle tracking microrheology
- Fourier transform analysis
Main Results:
- Higher salt concentrations accelerated structural heterogeneity development in aging colloidal gels.
- Increased salt concentration led to a decrease in the average size of aggregates.
- Microrheology revealed liquid-like dynamics in dilute phases and gel-like dynamics in concentrated phases, with nanoscale heterogeneities present.
Conclusions:
- Salt concentration significantly modulates the aging dynamics and structural heterogeneity of LAPONITE® colloidal gels.
- The findings offer insights into the interplay between salt concentration, aging, and the emergent properties of colloidal gels.
Related Concept Videos
01:05Long-term Depression
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
01:03Long-term Depression
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
01:27Corrosion of Reinforcement
The corrosion of steel reinforcement within concrete is a process influenced by the material's inherent properties and external factors. The high pH level of around 13, provided by calcium hydroxide present in concrete, initially protects the steel reinforcement by promoting the formation of a passive iron oxide layer on its surface.
However, over time and under certain conditions like carbonation, chloride ingress, and cracking this protective state can be compromised. Steel has areas with...
However, over time and under certain conditions like carbonation, chloride ingress, and cracking this protective state can be compromised. Steel has areas with...