Design and optimization of superabsorbent hydrogels based on acrylic acid/2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid copolymers
PUBLISHED IN: Journal of Applied Polymers Science, Published July 23, 2022
ABSTRACT
Although acrylic acid-based superabsorbent hydrogels (SAHs) are widely used in hygiene and personal care applications, the low degrees of true ionization in such SAHs under practical application places a limit on the degree of superabsorbency that can be achieved. Herein, the preparation and optimization of SAHs based on copolymers of acrylic acid (AA) with 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS), a strong acid comonomer that remains ionized at all relevant physiological pH values, is described. AA-AMPS recipes optimized using a central composite design response surface method demonstrate significantly enhanced absorbance under load (AUL) values (>15–20% increase) and comparable centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) values compared to the corresponding AA-only controls while maintaining strong mechanics even in the swollen state (as much as twice the modulus of the commercial AA-based superabsorbent). The simplicity of this recipe, coupled with the reproducible achievement of the improved superabsorbency properties using a small adaptation of the commercial SAH synthesis protocol, makes AA-AMPS superabsorbent hydrogels potential candidates for use in commercial hygiene products.
Related Scientific Publications
Design Characteristics of a Neoteric, Superhydrophilic, Mechanically Robust Hydrogel Engineered […]
Dermal fibroblasts play a pivotal role in cell therapy, serving as versatile cells essential for tissue repair and regeneration. Their unique ability to produce extracellular matrix components contributes significantly to the efficacy and success of various cell-based therapies in treating skin-related conditions and wounds. Scaling up the production of dermal fibroblasts poses a challenge due to their limited lifespan in culture and the need to maintain their specialized functions over multiple generations...
3D bioprinting has emerged as a viable tool to fabricate 3D tissue constructs with high precision using various bioinks which offer instantaneous gelation, shape fidelity, and cytocompatibility. Among various bioinks, cellulose is the most abundantly available natural polymer & widely used as bioink for 3D bioprinting applications. To mitigate the demanding crosslinking needs of cellulose, it is frequently chemically modified or blended with other polymers to develop stable hydrogels. In this study, we have developed a thermoresponsive...
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan in the extracellular matrix with immunoregulatory properties depending on its molecular weight (MW). However, the impact of matrix-bound HA on dendritic cells (DCs) remains unclear due to varying distribution of HA MW under different physiological conditions. To investigate DCs in defined biosystems, 3D collagen matrices modified with HA of specific MW with similar microstructure and HA levels are used. It is found that HA MW influences...
The aim of this study was to assess how transglutaminase (TG) impacts the microstructure, texture, and rheological properties of fermentation-induced pea protein emulsion gels. Additionally, the study examined the influence of storage time on the functional properties of these gels. Fermentation-induced pea protein gels were produced in the presence or absence of TG and stored for 1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Texture analysis, rheological measurements, moisture content and microstructure evaluation...
Current treatments for glioblastoma (GBM) face challenges due to rapidly occurring tumor recurrences. In response, researchers have developed localized drug delivery systems, notably AT101-GlioMesh - an alginate-based mesh embedded with AT101-loaded PLGA microspheres. Fabricated for high encapsulation efficiency, this system ensures a sustained release of AT101, demonstrating a significant cytotoxic effect on GBM cell lines. This promising development could potentially revolutionize GBM therapy and prevent tumor recurrence.