Comprehensive characterization of natural polysaccharide-based hydrogels with gradient structure in concentration and stiffness

Comprehensive characterization of natural polysaccharide-based hydrogels with gradient structure in concentration and stiffness

WoS Article

Gradient hydrogels are functionally graded biomaterials that over the last decades have garnered significant attention as valuable materials for tissue repair and regeneration. This study elucidates key factors crucially determining the character or pattern of a buoyancy-driven gradient in agarose hydrogels and also provides fundamental information regarding the complex interpretation of the formed gradient hydrogels obtained by the different characterization techniques, including rheology, UV-Vis spectroscopy, FCS, AFM, SEM. The employed techniques were successfully optimized to enhance the understanding of the gradient properties of these hydrogels. Demonstrated results showed that the agarose concentration gradient could be successfully controlled and tailored, which offers a valuable contribution to the design of gradient hydrogel. Moreover, a novel method for determining the average agarose concentration along the gradient axis is presented, improving the precision of gradient characterization. The integration of these approaches significantly enhances the comprehension of the internal structure and properties of gradient materials, contributing to advancements in their understanding and application.

Gradient hydrogels are functionally graded biomaterials that over the last decades have garnered significant attention as valuable materials for tissue repair and regeneration. This study elucidates key factors crucially determining the character or pattern of a buoyancy-driven gradient in agarose hydrogels and also provides fundamental information regarding the complex interpretation of the formed gradient hydrogels obtained by the different characterization techniques, including rheology, UV-Vis spectroscopy, FCS, AFM, SEM. The employed techniques were successfully optimized to enhance the understanding of the gradient properties of these hydrogels. Demonstrated results showed that the agarose concentration gradient could be successfully controlled and tailored, which offers a valuable contribution to the design of gradient hydrogel. Moreover, a novel method for determining the average agarose concentration along the gradient axis is presented, improving the precision of gradient characterization. The integration of these approaches significantly enhances the comprehension of the internal structure and properties of gradient materials, contributing to advancements in their understanding and application.

Hydrogels, Stiffness gradient, Rheology, Atomic force microscopy, Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, Polysaccharides

Hydrogels, Stiffness gradient, Rheology, Atomic force microscopy, Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, Polysaccharides

ZINKOVSKA, N.; TRUDIČOVÁ, M.; MARKOVÁ, K.; PEKAŘ, M.; SMILEK, J.

2025

27.09.2024

ELSEVIER

Amsterdam

0927-7757

COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS

704

135455

Kingdom of the Netherlands

13

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0927775724023197