Fabrication of Microscale Hydrogels with Tailored Microstructures based on Liquid Bridge Phenomenon

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Lin WangFeng Xu

Abstract

Microscale hydrogels (microgels) find widespread applications in various fields, such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, and biosensing. The shape of the microgels is a critical parameter that can significantly influence their function in these applications. Although various methods have been developed (e.g., micromolding, photolithography, microfluidics, and mechanical deformation method), it is still technically challenging to fabricate microgels with tailored microstructures. In this study, we have developed a simple and versatile method for preparing microgels by stretching hydrogel precursor droplets between two substrates to form a liquid bridge. Microgels with tailored microstructures (e.g., barrel-like, dumbbell-like, or funnel-like shapes) have been achieved through adjusting the distance between and the hydrophobicity of the two substrates. The developed method holds great potential to impact multiple fields, such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, and biosensing.

References

Jun 7, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·T Eisner, D J Aneshansley
Jul 14, 2005·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Jason P RollandJoseph M DeSimone
Apr 11, 2006·Nature Materials·Dhananjay DendukuriPatrick S Doyle
Mar 10, 2007·Science·Daniel C PregibonPatrick S Doyle
Jul 11, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Julie A ChampionSamir Mitragotri
Jun 19, 2008·Molecular Therapy : the Journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy·Silvia MuroVladimir R Muzykantov
Jul 5, 2008·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Yanan DuAli Khademhosseini
Sep 25, 2008·Lab on a Chip·Dae Kun HwangPatrick S Doyle
Dec 20, 2008·Nature Materials·Samir Mitragotri, Joerg Lahann
Mar 6, 2010·Nature Protocols·Dong QinGeorge M Whitesides
Oct 6, 2010·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Hideaki ShibataShoji Takeuchi
Dec 1, 2002·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Walter FederleRobert J Full
Aug 11, 2011·Advanced Materials·Feng XuUtkan Demirci
Oct 20, 2011·Biomacromolecules·Daryl SivakumaranTodd Hoare
Feb 21, 2013·Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids·H ChenT Tang
Sep 10, 2013·Nature Communications·Hao QiAli Khademhosseini
Nov 28, 2013·Macromolecular Rapid Communications·Yi-Huei KaoJiun-Tai Chen
Feb 26, 2014·Nature Communications·Irwin A EydelnantAaron R Wheeler
Mar 15, 2014·Lab on a Chip·Sukho ParkSeth Fraden
Apr 15, 2014·Nature Materials·Jiseok LeePatrick S Doyle

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 31, 2016·Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids·Raheel AkramFeng Shi
Jun 12, 2020·Chemistry : a European Journal·Mengjiao Cheng, Feng Shi
Jan 10, 2017·Journal of Materials Chemistry. B, Materials for Biology and Medicine·Zhongliang JiangJohn Oakey
Aug 13, 2021·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Yuan XueLinyong Zhu
Jan 14, 2019·ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering·Jaejung SonJe-Kyun Park
Nov 5, 2020·Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids·Si Suo, Yixiang Gan
Mar 27, 2018·Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids·Yao HuangHaibo Xie

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.