Synthetic polymer Archives

June 16, 2022

AI-based prediction of hydrogel gelation kinetics and their mechanical properties

Hydrogels are biomaterials that are widely studied in the biomedical field. They are used, for example, to produce contact lenses and wound dressings, for drug release systems, or as scaffolds for tissue engineering. The design of such hydrogels is often multidimensional since multiple parameters related to their chemical composition and physical properties affect how they are going to behave in vivo.

March 1, 2022

An inorganic biomaterial with great hemostatic potential

Scientists from Dalhousie University, led by Dr. Mark Joseph Filiaggi, investigated the sodium polyphosphate (NaPP) polymer as a potential hemostatic agent. They tested six formulations of the biomaterial, with varying degrees of polymerization and types of divalent cations. The hemostatic potential of these formulations was evaluated using various blood clotting assays. The biomaterial was mixed with coagulation reagents and recalcified blood or plasma in a tube, which was then shaken to visually assess blood or plasma flow. The clotting time was noted as the time required to achieve no flow. Surgifoam®, a commercial hemostatic agent, was used as a control.

May 12, 2021

Testing the Swelling of Superabsorbent Polymers (SAP) and Gel Formation using ElastoSens™ Bio

Testing the bulk mechanical properties of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) during swelling may be extremely challenging using traditional testing instruments such as rheometers and compressional testers. This analytical limitation reduces the ability to develop and formulate new superabsorbent polymers for specific applications and requirements.

January 30, 2021

Testing the viscoelasticity of 3D printed hydrogels using ElastoSens™ Bio

3D printing technologies offer the advantage of precisely controlling the microstructure of scaffolds used for tissue engineering applications and drug delivery systems. The macro-mechanical properties of these scaffolds are directly related to their microstructure and both are important parameters for cell behavior and drug release.