Actuation of a novel Pluronic-based hydrogel: Electromechanical response and the role of applied current

J Polym Sci B Polym Phys

Cordero

Stam

2013

Stimuli‐responsive hydrogels are continuing to increase in demand in biomedical applications. Occluding a blood vessel is one possible application which is ideal for a hydrogel because of their ability to expand in a fluid environment. However, typically stimuli‐responsive hydrogels focus on bending instead of radial uniform expansion, which is required for an occlusion application. This article focuses on using an interdigitated electrode device to stimulate an electro‐responsive hydrogel in order to demonstrate a uniform swelling/deswelling of the hydrogel. A Pluronic‐bismethacrylate (PF127‐BMA) hydrogel modified with hydrolyzed methacrylic acid, in order to make it electrically responsive, is used in this article. An interdigitated electrode device was manufactured containing Platinum electrodes. The results in this paper show that the electrically biased hydrogels deswelled 230% more than the non‐biased samples on average. The hydrogels deswelled uniformly and showed no visual deformations due to the electrical bias. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 1523–1528

“…The hydrogels were synthesized using the recipe described previously . The ERH consisted of a bismethacrylate‐ co ‐methacrylic acid sodium salt hydrogel network.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

3‐D Interdigitated electrodes for uniform stimulation of electro‐responsive hydrogels for biomedical applications

J Polym Sci B Polym Phys

Cordero

Stam

2013

“…The ability of the PLMANa hydrogel to respond to an electrical bias was previously reported using sheet electrodes to investigate bending of the ERH . This article aims to investigate optimal stimulation parameters that cause radial deswelling of the ERH.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Optimization of electrical stimulation parameters for electro‐responsive hydrogels for biomedical applications

J of Applied Polymer Sci

Stam

2014

Electro-responsive hydrogels (ERH) are highly researched materials for biomedical applications. However, most of the research is concentrated on the synthesis of novel hydrogels for various applications, and little effort has been made to investigate electrode configuration and optimization of electrical stimulation parameters. This article used a three-dimensional interdigitated (IDT) electrode configuration device to investigate the optimization of electrical actuation parameters in order to radially deswell an ERH. A Pluronic-bismethacrylate hydrogel modified with hydrolyzed methacrylic acid was used as the ERH material. This article reports on using novel electro-actuation parameters and electrode configurations to maximize radial deswelling of an ERH for biomedical applications. The optimal waveform was assessed for, varying electrode spacing's, voltages, duty cycles, and frequencies. The results show that a maximum deswelling occurred with a DC pulsed monophasic waveform, with IDT electrodes spaced close enough to create a relatively uniform electric field, with a peak voltage of 5 V at 1 kHz, and 50% duty cycle. This resulted in a deswelling of 320% in Krebs solution. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results show that the impedance is dependent on the ionic concentration of the fluid environment and that the impedance decreases with increasing frequency.

“…Electro-responsivity of the PLMANa material using sheet electrodes for bending tests were previously published [19]. However, to produce radial deswelling, which is required for this application, a 3-D macro-scale interdigitated (IDT) electrode device was developed.…”

Section: Electroactuation Of Hydrogelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Cardiovascular Occlusion Method Based on the Use of a Smart Hydrogel

IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng.

Verbrugghe

Cuypers

et al. 2015

Self Cite

1 Abstract-Smart hydrogels for biomedical applications are highly researched materials. However, integrating them into a device for implantation is difficult. This paper investigates an integrated delivery device designed to deliver an electroresponsive hydrogel to a target location inside a blood vessel with the purpose of creating an occlusion. The paper describes the synthesis and characterization of a Pluronic/methacrylic acid sodium salt electro-responsive hydrogel. Application of an electrical bias decelerates the expansion of the hydrogel. An integrated delivery system was manufactured to deliver the hydrogel to the target location in the body. Ex vivo and in vivo experiments in the carotid artery of sheep were used to validate the concept. The hydrogel was able to completely occlude the blood vessel reducing the blood flow from 245 ml/min to 0 ml/min after implantation. Ex vivo experiments showed that the hydrogel was able to withstand physiological blood pressures of > 270 mmHg without dislodgement. The results showed that the electro-responsive hydrogel used in this paper can be used to create a long-term occlusion in a blood vessel without any apparent side effects. The delivery system developed is a promising device for the delivery of electro-responsive hydrogels.