Injectable, self-healing mesoporous silica nanocomposite hydrogels with improved mechanical properties

Abstract

Nanocomposites created by dynamic crosslinking of mesoporous silica nanoparticles to PEG hydrogels represents a promising strategy to confer mechanical strength and rapid self-healing capabilities to hydrogels.

Peptide-Modified Nano-Bioactive Glass for Targeted Immobilization of Native VEGF

“…By varying the APTES/nBG ratios (4.2 and 42 μmol mg –1 ), increasing amine concentrations of 5.4 and 7.6 nmol mg –1 on the nBG could be obtained, respectively ( Figure 1 d), as assessed quantitatively using fluorescent labeling with NHS-FITC ( Figure 1 c). 57 Since the density of the amines depended on the APTES/nBG ratio during modification, the amount of reactive moieties for the subsequent functionalization of the particles with peptides could be controlled. Surface amination was further apparent from zeta potential measurements ( Figure 1 e).…”

Recent Developments of Nanomaterials in Hydrogels: Characteristics, Influences, and Applications

“…Many strategies have been developed to improve the mechanical properties of hydrogels. Three important strategies are usually used: controlling the hydrogel concentration, [73] using a dual/interpenetrating network structure, [16a,74] and incorporating nanomaterials into the gel matrix [34,46,61] . In this part, we mainly discuss the improvement of the self‐healing performance, rheological properties, stretchability and toughness of hydrogels by the incorporation of nanomaterials.…”

“…In recent years, some studies have shown that through dynamic covalent interaction, faster self‐healing gels can be prepared, which renders the hydrogel more environmentally friendly and greatly improves the utilization of materials [59b] . With subsequent in‐depth research, people mainly use methods to functionalize the surface of nanomaterials, [34,58] so that they have the conditions to form dynamic covalent interactions. Then, a dynamic covalent reversible reaction between the functionalized nanomaterial and the hydrogel matrix generates dynamic covalent bonds, thereby forming a hydrogel with self‐healing properties.…”

“…In recent years, some hydrogels have been widely used in biomedicine, [30] sensors, [31] 3D printing, [32] ion exchange [33] etc. because of their good self‐healing, [31b,34] injectability, [30c,34] biocompatibility, [35] and stimulus responsiveness, [36] but most of the traditional hydrogels cannot satisfy the combination of multiple quality factors. For example, due to the lack of energy dissipation mechanism in most traditional hydrogels, the three‐dimensional network structure is prone to breakage when loaded, resulting in the lack of mechanical properties [37] .…”

Fabrication of Multiresponsive Magnetic Nanocomposite Double‐Network Hydrogels for Controlled Release Applications

“…Nanocomposite hydrogel (NC hydrogel), nanomaterials are incorporated in the cross‐linked polymeric chains, is one type of emerging hydrogels to present unique properties compared to traditional polymeric hydrogel. [ 1–4 ] NC hydrogels with different nanomaterials (e.g., carbon‐based nanomaterials, [ 5–8 ] polymer nanoparticles, [ 9 ] inorganic/ceramic nanoparticles, [ 10–12 ] or metal/metal oxide nanoparticles [ 13–15 ] ) present improved mechanical toughness [ 16,17 ] as well as novel performances (e.g., magnetic responsiveness, [ 13,18 ] near‐infrared responsiveness, [ 19–22 ] antimicrobial properties, [ 23,24 ] electricity, [ 25 ] thermal conductivity, [ 26 ] and fluorescence [ 27,28 ] ) for specific applications. Those “smart hydrogels” that respond to internal and external stimuli (e.g., light, [ 29,30 ] pH, [ 31–33 ] temperature, [ 34,35 ] or magnetic field [ 36,37 ] ) have been widely used in tissue engineering, [ 38,39 ] biosensors, [ 40,41 ] and drug delivery.…”