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Printable homocomposite hydrogels with synergistically reinforced molecular-colloidal networks
A.H. Williams, S. Roh, , S.D. Stoyanov, L. Hsiao, O.D. Velev
Published in Nature Research
2021
PMID: 33990593
Volume: 12
   
Issue: 1
Abstract
The design of hydrogels where multiple interpenetrating networks enable enhanced mechanical properties can broaden their field of application in biomedical materials, 3D printing, and soft robotics. We report a class of self-reinforced homocomposite hydrogels (HHGs) comprised of interpenetrating networks of multiscale hierarchy. A molecular alginate gel is reinforced by a colloidal network of hierarchically branched alginate soft dendritic colloids (SDCs). The reinforcement of the molecular gel with the nanofibrillar SDC network of the same biopolymer results in a remarkable increase of the HHG’s mechanical properties. The viscoelastic HHGs show >3× larger storage modulus and >4× larger Young’s modulus than either constitutive network at the same concentration. Such synergistically enforced colloidal-molecular HHGs open up numerous opportunities for formulation of biocompatible gels with robust structure-property relationships. Balance of the ratio of their precursors facilitates precise control of the yield stress and rate of self-reinforcement, enabling efficient extrusion 3D printing of HHGs. © 2021, The Author(s).
About the journal
JournalNature Communications
PublisherNature Research
ISSN20411723