Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/11375/22238
Title: | Composite Hydrogels with Tunable Anisotropic Morphologies and Mechanical Properties |
Authors: | Chau, Mokit De France, Kevin Kopera, Bernd Machado, Vanessa Rosefeldt, Sabine Reyes, Laura Chan, Katelyn Förster, Stephan Cranston, Emily Hoare, Todd Kumacheva, Eugenia |
Department: | Chemical Engineering |
Publication Date: | 2016 |
Publisher: | American Chemical Society |
Abstract: | Fabrication of anisotropic hydrogels exhibiting direction-dependent structure and properties have attracted great interest in biomimicking, tissue engineering and bioseparation. Herein, we report a single-step freeze casting-based fabrication of structurally and mechanically anisotropic aerogels and hydrogels composed of hydrazone cross-linked poly(oligoethylene glycol methacrylate) (POEGMA) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). We show that by controlling the composition of the CNC/POEGMA dispersion and the freeze casting temperature, aerogels with fibrillar, columnar, or lamellar morphologies can be produced. Small-angle X-ray scattering experiments show that the anisotropy of the struc- ture originates from the alignment of the mesostructures, rather than the CNC building blocks. The composite hydrogels show high structural and mechanical integrity and a strong variation in Young's moduli in orthogonal directions. The controllable morphology and hydrogel anisotropy, coupled with hydrazone cross-linking and biocompatibility of CNCs and POEGMA, provide a versatile platform for the preparation of anisotropic hydrogels. |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/11375/22238 |
Identifier: | 10.1021/acs.chemmater.6b00792 |
Appears in Collections: | Chemical Engineering Publications |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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Chau De France et al - Chemistry of Materials 2016 - Post print.pdf | 1.64 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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