We present unique molding/bonding processes to fabricate microstructured Ca-alginate hydrogel plates. We employed propylene glycol alginate (PGA), an ester derivative of alginate, which suppresses the shrinkage of sodium alginate (NaA) during the gelation process, and prepared microstructured hydrogel plates via molding. Also, a bonding procedure utilizing polycation coating is presented to obt...

We numerically demonstrated the characteristics of a functional hydrogel layer on a silicon-based grating waveguide for a simple, cost-effective refractive index (RI) biochemical sensor. The RI of the functional hydrogel layer changes when a specific biochemical interaction occurs between the hydrogel-linked receptors and injected ligand molecules. The transmission spectral profile of the grati...

In this work, we aim to develop a dual drug delivery system (DDDS) of self-assembled micelles in thermosensitive hydrogel composite to deliver hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs simultaneously for colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis (CRPC) therapy. In our previous studies, we found that poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCEC) copolymers with different molecular we...

Equitable global access to vaccines requires overcoming challenges associated with complex immunization schedules and their economic burdens that hinder delivery in under-resourced environments. The rabies vaccine, for example, multiple immunizations effective protection each dose is cost prohibitive, therefore inaccessibility disproportionately impacts low- middle-income countries. In this wor...

Hydrogels' applications are usually limited by their weak mechanical properties. Despite recent great progress in developing tough hydrogels, it is still challenging to achieve high values of , toughness and modulus all together in synthetic hydrogels. In this paper, we designed highly stretchable, tough, yet stiff hydrogel composites via a combination of nanoscale hybrid crosslinking and macro...

Hydrogels of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) cross-linked with N,N′-cystaminebis(acrylamide) (CBA) were prepared inside microchannels using an in situ photopolymerization for the study of chemical-responsive microgels. By chemically reducing disulfide bonds with dithiothreitol (DTT), the cross-link density of the hydrogel network decreased, leading to an observable swelling of the hydrogel. ...

Hydrogel products constitute polymeric materials as a group, the hydrophilic structure which renders them capability of holding large amounts water in their 3-dimensional networks. Extensive employment those during number commercial and environmental areas application is taken into account to be prime importance. Needless say, natural hydrogels were gradually replaced by synthetic types thanks ...

A hydrogel intracorneal lens for refractive keratoplasty must have predictable and stable optics when implanted in the corneal stroma. A series of experiments was performed to evaluate the hydrogel hydration stability when in the corneal stromal environment. Hydrogel ICLs of 54%, 63%, 66% and 71% water content showed no loss of hydration (by weight) after one week in the rabbit corneal stroma. ...

We report an all-dry fabrication method of the hybrid structure of pH-responsive hydrogel and carbon nanotube arrays using initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD). Vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) arrays with low site density were coated by a vapor-deposited poly(methacrylic acid-coethylene glycol diacrylate) hydrogel with complete retention of the aligned structure and precise con...