Structurally optimized λ-carrageenan hydrogels via GMA functionalization and sepiolite reinforcement

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Lambda-carrageenan (LC) has poor thermal gelation and structural strength due to its high sulfate group density.
• Existing limitations hinder LC's use in applications requiring stable hydrogel structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To structurally modify lambda-carrageenan (LC) via methacrylation using glycidyl methacrylate (GMA).
• To enhance the mechanical and swelling properties of LC-based hydrogels through sepiolite reinforcement.
• To optimize hydrogel formulation using a D-optimal experimental design.

Main Methods:

• Methacrylation of LC using GMA at varying mass ratios and solvent volumes.
• Incorporation of sepiolite as a filler agent to reinforce hydrogel structure.
• Characterization of hydrogel properties including complex viscosity, storage modulus (G'), and swelling percentage.

Main Results:

• Optimized hydrogels achieved storage moduli (G') above 3000 Pa and 90% swelling capacity with 20% sepiolite.
• Methacrylation and sepiolite reinforcement significantly improved mechanical strength and swelling compared to unmodified LC.
• The D-optimal design effectively identified optimal conditions for GMA/LC ratio and solvent volume.

Conclusions:

• The synergistic combination of LC methacrylation and sepiolite reinforcement yields structurally optimized and tunable hydrogels.
• This approach overcomes the limitations of native LC, enabling potential use in advanced functional applications.
• The developed hydrogels exhibit enhanced mechanical properties and swelling behavior suitable for specialized material needs.