A Physically Cross-Linked Sodium Alginate–Gelatin Hydrogel with High Mechanical Strength

Abstract

Hydrogels constructed from pure biomacromolecules with multifunctions of good mechanical performances, ionic environmental stability, self-healing, biocompatibility, and ionic conductivity are desirable but remain as a challenge. In this work, hydrogels composed of pure biomacromolecules of gelatin and sodium alginate were constructed through a simple repeated acid soaking–drying–swelling process. The obtained hydrogel with a physically cross-linked interpenetrated network of gelatin and sodium alginate contained 79% water and had a relatively high fracture tensile stress and strain of 0.46 MPa and 2.4, respectively. As the gel was cross-linked with a hydrogen bond and alginic acid, it exhibited good stability in a physiological saline solution. Furthermore, the gel exhibited good biocompatibility, self-healing properties, and ionic conductivity, demonstrating its excellent potential for applications in biomedical materials and biosensors.

Sustainable Afterglow Room‐Temperature Phosphorescence Emission Materials Generated Using Natural Phenolics

“…GA, as a representative natural phenolic, was used for preparing sustainable afterglow RTP materials. A polymeric network formed between SA and Ca 2+ was used as the crosslinked matrix [8] . As expected, in situ trapping of GA in the crosslinked SA network to produce GA@SA triggered strong afterglow RTP emission centred at 500 nm (Figure 2a).…”

Sustainable Afterglow Room‐Temperature Phosphorescence Emission Materials Generated Using Natural Phenolics

“…A polymeric network formed between SA and Ca 2 + was used as the crosslinked matrix. [8] As expected, in situ trapping of GA in the crosslinked SA network to produce GA@SA triggered strong afterglow RTP emission centred at 500 nm (Figure 2a). As a control, pure GA did not exhibit afterglow emission (Figure S1).…”

Cross-linker-free sodium alginate and gelatin hydrogels: a multiscale biomaterial design framework

“…Wang et al have recently shown a different methodology to prepare physically cross-linked sodium alginate/gelatin hydrogels; however, the controlled release phenomena and the conceptual understanding of the polymers were not discussed. 21 Another effort was to analyze the toughness properties of the sodium alginate/gelatin hydrogels, but the polymeric interaction towards controlled release behavior was not shown. 22 On the other hand, researchers have also studied the plasticizing behavior of PEGs and glycerol on polymeric films, but their specific role in changing the polymer structures was not discussed.…”

“…30 Researchers have shown earlier the biocompatibility of SA/G hydrogels when prepared using different methodologies. 21 The constituents that have played an integral role in this study to design these cross-linker-free hydrogels are plasticizers (PEG 2000 and glycerol) and a monovalent salt (NaCl). PEG and glycerol help in tuning the hydrogen bond and van der Waals forces, while NaCl modifies the structure of the charged polymers (gelatin) using electrostatic interactions.…”