Evaluation of Mesh Size in Model Polymer Networks Consisting of Tetra-Arm and Linear Poly(ethylene glycol)s

Tsuji, Yui; Li, Xiang; Shibayama, Mitsuhiro

doi:10.3390/gels4020050

Cited by 67 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The mesh size is not consistent in hydrogels, so it is difficult to evaluate. The mesh size of a model PEG hydrogel that overcomes the heterogeneity problem is in the order of several nanometers,19 and some reports on hydrogels designed for medical use describe their mesh size as being in the single-digit to double-digit nanometer range 20,21. The mesh size of our nonswelling PEG hydrogel seems to be very similar to that of the above hydrogels (data not shown).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

Ability of Nonswelling Polyethylene Glycol-Based Vitreous Hydrogel to Maintain Transparency in the Presence of Vitreous Hemorrhage

Hoshi

Okamoto

Murakami

et al. 2019

Trans. Vis. Sci. Tech.

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PurposePostoperative vitreous hemorrhage is a vision-impacting complication of vitrectomy. This preclinical in vitro study assessed the potential ability of a nonswelling polyethylene glycol-based artificial vitreous hydrogel to maintain transparency in the vitreous cavity in the presence of vitreous hemorrhage.MethodsSamples (1 mL) of diluted blood at concentrations of 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1.25% were added to 1 mL samples of polymerized hydrogel in cuvettes (gel + blood group); 2 mL samples of diluted blood at the same concentrations were prepared as controls (blood only group). Spectral transmission curves for the hydrogel (gel + blood group) and diluted blood (blood only group) were obtained before and on days 1, 2, 5, 7, 14, and 28 of the experiment. Between-group comparisons were made using the Student's t-test. The percentage of transmittance in the visible light spectrum (400–700 nm) was measured at each time point.ResultsMean light transmittance was maintained at >90% until day 7 in the gel + blood group and was significantly greater in the gel + blood than in the blood only groups in samples containing blood diluted to 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1.25% during the 28-day study period (P < 0.05).ConclusionsA nonswelling polyethylene glycol-based artificial vitreous hydrogel maintained high optical transparency in the presence of blood through the study period. Injection of this hydrogel into the vitreous cavity at the end of surgery might help to prevent or mitigate vitreous hemorrhage-associated postoperative visual loss.Translational RelevanceThe hydrogel may prevent visual loss due to postoperative vitreous hemorrhage.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

Ability of Nonswelling Polyethylene Glycol-Based Vitreous Hydrogel to Maintain Transparency in the Presence of Vitreous Hemorrhage

Hoshi

Okamoto

Murakami

et al. 2019

Trans. Vis. Sci. Tech.

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“…The average mesh size is used to characterize the pore structure of various polymer networks. Several definitions of average mesh size,

, are used depending on experimental approaches [ 23 ]. We calculate the distance between two connected crosslinks to define the geometric mesh size.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The porosity of polymer networks is a key parameter characterizing the internal structure of polymer networks and it is measured by a structural quantity, called the average mesh size,

[ 23 ]. Accordingly, previous studies on tracer diffusion in polymer networks have focused on understanding the effect of different network mesh sizes [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 19 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tracer Diffusion in Tightly-Meshed Homogeneous Polymer Networks: A Brownian Dynamics Simulation Study

et al. 2020

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We report Brownian dynamics simulations of tracer diffusion in regularly crosslinked polymer networks in order to elucidate the transport of a tracer particle in polymer networks. The average mesh size of homogeneous polymer networks is varied by assuming different degrees of crosslinking or swelling, and the size of a tracer particle is comparable to the average mesh size. Simulation results show subdiffusion of a tracer particle at intermediate time scales and normal diffusion at long times. In particular, the duration of subdiffusion is significantly prolonged as the average mesh size decreases with increasing degree of crosslinking, for which long-time diffusion occurs via the hopping processes of a tracer particle after undergoing rattling motions within a cage of the network mesh for an extended period of time. On the other hand, the cage dynamics and hopping process are less pronounced as the mesh size decreases with increasing polymer volume fractions. The interpretation is provided in terms of fluctuations in network mesh size: at higher polymer volume fractions, the network fluctuations are large enough to allow for collective, structural changes of network meshes, so that a tracer particle can escape from the cage, whereas, at lower volume fractions, the fluctuations are so small that a tracer particle remains trapped within the cage for a significant period of time before making infrequent jumps out of the cage. This work suggests that fluctuation in mesh size, as well as average mesh size itself, plays an important role in determining the dynamics of molecules and nanoparticles that are embedded in tightly meshed polymer networks.

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“…Schematic representations for swollen polymer networks, also known as hydrogels, frequently oversimplify the structure. The most commonly used and symbolic schematic for a swollen polymer network has four polymer chains in an overlapping hash pattern, [ 1–4 ] implying that the network junctions are tetrafunctional and all chains are restricted to a 2D plane. In those representations, the network appears to form a square portal that a solute could pass through if its diameter was less than the length of one network chain between two junctions ( Figure A).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solute Transport Dependence on 3D Geometry of Hydrogel Networks

Richbourg

Ravikumar

Peppas

2021

Macro Chemistry & Physics

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Hydrogels are used in drug delivery applications, chromatography, and tissue engineering to control the rate of solute transport based on solute size and hydrogel‐solute affinity. Ongoing modeling efforts to quantify the relationship between hydrogel properties, solute properties, and solute transport contribute toward an increasingly efficient hydrogel design process and provide fundamental insight into the mechanisms relating hydrogel structure and function. However, here previous conclusions regarding the use of mesh size in hydrogel transport models are clarified. 3D geometry and hydrogel network visualizations are used to show that mesh size and junction functionality both contribute to the mesh radius, which determines whether a solute can diffuse within a hydrogel. Using mesh radius instead of mesh size to model solute transport in hydrogels will correct junction functionality‐dependent modeling errors, improving hydrogel design predictions and clarifying mechanisms of solute transport in hydrogels.

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Evaluation of Mesh Size in Model Polymer Networks Consisting of Tetra-Arm and Linear Poly(ethylene glycol)s

Cited by 67 publications

References 36 publications

Ability of Nonswelling Polyethylene Glycol-Based Vitreous Hydrogel to Maintain Transparency in the Presence of Vitreous Hemorrhage

Ability of Nonswelling Polyethylene Glycol-Based Vitreous Hydrogel to Maintain Transparency in the Presence of Vitreous Hemorrhage

Tracer Diffusion in Tightly-Meshed Homogeneous Polymer Networks: A Brownian Dynamics Simulation Study

Solute Transport Dependence on 3D Geometry of Hydrogel Networks

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