Search results for "self-heal"
showing 10 items of 223 documents
Automated detection of protein unfolding events in atomic force microscopy force curves
2016
Atomic force microscopy is not only a high-resolution imaging device but also a mechanical machine, which can be used either to indent or stretch (soft) biomaterials. Due to the statistical nature of such materials (i.e., hydrogels or polymers) hundreds of force-distance curves are required to describe their mechanical properties. In this manuscript, we present an automated system for polymer unfolding detection based on continuous wavelet analysis. We have tested the automated program on elastin, which is an important protein that provides elasticity to tissues and organs. Our results show that elastin changes its mechanical behavior in the presence of electrolytes. In particular, we show …
Micro- to Nanoscale Bio-Hybrid Hydrogels Engineered by Ionizing Radiation
2021
Bio-hybrid hydrogels consist of a water-swollen hydrophilic polymer network encapsulating or conjugating single biomolecules, or larger and more complex biological constructs like whole cells. By modulating at least one dimension of the hydrogel system at the micro- or nanoscale, the activity of the biological component can be extremely upgraded with clear advantages for the development of therapeutic or diagnostic micro- and nano-devices. Gamma or e-beam irradiation of polymers allow a good control of the chemistry at the micro-/nanoscale with minimal recourse to toxic reactants and solvents. Another potential advantage is to obtain simultaneous sterilization when the absorbed doses are wi…
In situ forming hydrogels of new amino hyaluronic acid/benzoyl-cysteine derivatives as potential scaffolds for cartilage regeneration
2012
A new chemical strategy is described to link ethylenediamino (EDA) groups to primary hydroxyl groups of hyaluronic acid (HA) and the obtained derivatives have been characterized by 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR analyses. Such HA–EDA derivatives have been exploited to control the functionalization degree in benzoyl-cysteine (BC) groups, chosen as moieties able to allow both self-assembling in aqueous media and an oxidative crosslinking. In particular, the kinetics of oxidation of thiol groups in HA–EDA–BC derivatives has been studied in Dulbecco's Phosphate Buffer Solution (DPBS) pH 7.4 by colorimetric assays and rheological measurements. Mechanical properties of chemical hydrogels obtained after oxida…
Towards the Generation of Self-Healing Materials by Means of a Reversible Photo-induced Approach
2011
Photo-induced reversibility as a tool for self-healing: a reversible photo-induced dendritic macromonomer was synthesized and proven to form networks with different features depending on the crosslinking conditions. While networks formed from aqueous systems exhibited a reversible change in their crosslinking degree, networks generated in bulk underwent fully reversibility. The latter was then exploited for generating self-healing materials by means of a photo-induced treatment.
Dynamic covalent urea bonds and their potential for development of self-healing polymer materials
2019
Self-healing polymer materials have drawn rapidly increasing interest over the last decade, and have been studied and used in an ever-increasing range of applications. Herein, we successfully make the covalent urea bond – a pinnacle of stability due to strong resonance effects – dynamic in nature through mediation of zinc salts. The dynamic covalent character of urea in the presence of zinc ions is confirmed through dissociation reaction experiments and quantum chemical calculations of small-molecule model urea compounds. In line with our experiments, the modelling results suggest that the presence of zinc ions speeds up the reaction of urea dissociation by two orders of magnitude via the f…
Carboxylated-xyloglucan and peptide amphiphile co-assembly in wound healing.
2021
Abstract Hydrogel wound dressings can play critical roles in wound healing protecting the wound from trauma or contamination and providing an ideal environment to support the growth of endogenous cells and promote wound closure. This work presents a self-assembling hydrogel dressing that can assist the wound repair process mimicking the hierarchical structure of skin extracellular matrix. To this aim, the co-assembly behaviour of a carboxylated variant of xyloglucan (CXG) with a peptide amphiphile (PA-H3) has been investigated to generate hierarchical constructs with tuneable molecular composition, structure, and properties. Transmission electron microscopy and circular dichroism at a low c…
Probing the Folding of Peptide–Polymer Conjugates Using the π-Dimerization of Viologen End-Groups
2020
The synthesis of a foldable viologen-functionalized peptide–polymer conjugate is presented. The ABA-type triblock conjugate with a PEG polymer was capped with a FHFHF pentapeptide sequence and further modified with a viologen building block at both chain ends. The pH-responsive peptide domains fold into an intermediate structure inducing close proximity of the viologen units, which upon a reduction step form π-dimers of the radical cation. Overall the intramolecular folding and intermolecular self-assembly process leads to the formation of supramolecular nanorods. Mixing of viologen-peptide–polymer conjugates with unfunctionalized conjugates leads to crosslinking of the nanorods and hydroge…
New hydrogel matrices based on chemical crosslinked α,β -polyas parthydrazide: Synthesis, characterization and in vivo biocompatibility studies
1996
New swellable micromatrices of α,β-polyasparthydrazide (PAHy) crosslinked with glutaraldehyde were prepared. The effect of crosslinking agent concentration was evaluated. In particular, crosslinking density affected aqueous dynamic swelling and glass-transition temperature of the material. The structure of prepared networks was also studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray analysis. Finally, biocompatibility of PAHy derivatives was investigated in vivo by subcutaneous implantation and in oral administration to laboratory animals.
Development and characterisation of polymer composite materials with bio-inspired functions
2018
Promocijas darbs ir izstrādāts disertācijas veidā fizikas nozarē materiālu fizikas apakšnozarē. Pētījums tika veikts LU Materiālu mehānikas institūtā. Darbs saistīts ar aktuālu un jaunu pētījumu virzienu: bioinspirēto funkciju tālāku attīstīšanu slodzi nesošos kompozītos. Tās ir mehānisku triecienu vizuālās indikācijas un polimēru matricas vaskulārās pašdziedināšanas funkcijas. Šīs funkcijas tika nodrošinātas, izveidojot viedus slāņus un iebūvējot tos kompozītā. Pētījumā tika noskaidrotas piemērotās pārbaužu secības, attīstītas kvantitatīvas metodes un mehānisks modelis, lai novērtētu jauno funkciju efektivitāti kompozītos. Ir pierādīta funkciju augstā efektivitāte un spēja uzlabot slodzi n…
Biocompatible hydrogels based on hyaluronic acid cross-linked with a polyaspartamide derivative as delivery systems for epithelial limbal cells.
2011
The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential use of hydrogels based on hyaluronic acid (HA) chemically cross-linked with α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl) (2-aminoethylcarbamate)-D,L-aspartamide (PHEA-EDA) as substitutes for the amniotic membrane able to release limbal cells for corneal regeneration. Hydrogels, shaped as films, with three different molar ratios (X) between PHEA-EDA and HA (X = 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5) have been investigated. First, it has been evaluated their swelling ability, hydrolytic resistance in simulated physiological fluid and cell compatibility by using human dermal fibroblasts chosen as a model cell line. Then adhesion studies in comparison with collagen gel, have been pe…