Hydrogels are polymeric materials widely used in medicine due to their similarity with the biological components of the body. Hydrogels are biocompatible materials that have the potential to promote cell proliferation and tissue support because of their hydrophilic nature, porous structure, and elastic mechanical properties. In this work, we demonstrate the microwave-assisted synthesis of three molecular weight varieties of poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) with different mechanical and thermal properties and the rapid photo of them using 1-hydroxy-cyclohexyl-phenyl-ketone (Irgacure 184) as UV photoinitiator. The effects of the poly(ethylene glycol) molecular weight and degree of acrylation on swelling, mechanical, and rheological properties of hydrogels were investigated. The biodegradability of the PEGDMA hydrogels, as well as the ability to grow and proliferate cells, was examined for its viability as a scaffold in tissue engineering. Altogether, the biomaterial hydrogel properties open the way for applications in the field of regenerative medicine for functional scaffolds and tissues.
The use of encapsulated fertilizers and pesticides is a key approach for slowing the release of agrochemicals, while simultaneously reducing costs and environmental problems. The use of hybrid systems for encapsulation in organic‐based agriculture, which enables the release of agrochemicals in a single application, has been a growing field. In this approach, a formulation of Bacillus‐thuringiensis as bio‐pesticide and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer (fish emulsion, potassium nitrate, and potassium phosphate) were formulated using superabsorbent polymers microbeads based on sodium alginate (ALG) then evaluated for release. Different formulations were prepared using 15 wt% of Bt, fish emulsion, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The encapsulated microbeads were prepared by wet‐extrusion processing using sodium alginate as the superabsorbent polymer and calcium chloride as the gelling agent. The resulting beads were characterized in terms of size, morphology, water uptake, and biodegradability. The results showed that the prepared microbeads have narrow size distributions (1.2 to 2.1 mm) and increased water uptake (1,200–3,200%). Moreover, loaded microbeads were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma‐optical emission spectroscopy and Elementar CHNS analyzer to obtain the fertilizer grades as (6.2–0.8–1.05), (0–6.3–6.4), and (0.62–0–2.4) for the one loaded with fish emulsion, for potassium phosphate loaded beads, and for potassium nitrate loaded beads, respectively.
Gelatin and chitosan polysaccharides were chemically modified to get methacrylate functionality to obtain biocompatible hydrogels for use as tissue engineering scaffolds. The methacrylation reaction was verified by 1H‐NMR. The degree of methacrylation was varied from 7% to 40% by changing the molar ratio of polysaccharide to methacrylic anhydride and the type of polysaccharide utilized. After the modification, polysaccharide‐based hydrogels were prepared by free‐radical polymerization in the presence of UV light and Irgacure 184 as a photoinitiator. The physical, chemical, and mechanical performances of the hydrogels were further characterized. Also, the biodegradability and the viability of the polysaccharide hydrogels were investigated using fibroblast cells. These cells were seeded directly onto the hydrogel surface, populated the entirety of the hydrogel, and remained viable for up to 1 week. Altogether, the modified polysaccharides exhibit the properties which make them crucial for applications in the field of regenerative medicine.
Single-network hydrogels can have an internal porous structure and biocompatibility, but have lower mechanical properties. Combining these properties with another biocompatible and mechanically strong network can help in mimicking the extracellular matrix of native tissues to make them suitable for tissue scaffolds with desired performance. In the current objective, we combine the properties of poly (ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) macromer and polysaccharides as the two components in double networks (DN) for synergistic effects of both components resulting in the interpenetrating polymeric network for making it functional for replacement of injured tissues. The hydrogels were characterized by physical properties like swelling ratio, mechanical properties like tensile and compressive modulus, and rheological behavior. The chemical composition was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the thermal behavior using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments. Biodegradability and mechanical strength both are gained using double networks (DN), thus making it resemble more like living tissues. DN hydrogels were tested for cell compatibility for possible application in tissue engineering. Furthermore, these properties may allow their application as tissue-engineered scaffolds.
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