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Gels
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Bio-Inspired Polymeric Gels and Their Applications
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Bio-Inspired Polymeric Gels and Their Applications

A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2023) | Viewed by 12101

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Chunxin Ma

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Interests: hydrogels; intelligent materials; biomimetic soft actuators; supramolecular self-assembly; nanomaterials; fluorescent materials and displayers; adsorption and separation; degradable polymers, wastewater treatment and environmental protection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bio-inspired polymeric gels have seen rapid development in the last ten years, involving many cutting-edge fields. Through the design of bio-mimetic gel structures with anisotropic, hierarchical layered, directional porous, double-network and self-assembled structures, bio-inspired polymeric gels can provide various specific functions for intelligent complex/powerful self-actuations, high-strength/self-healing artificial cartilages, soft wearable systems, high-efficient adsorption/ separation, and so on. However, compared with biological tissues/structures through hundred million years of natural evolution, existing artificial polymeric gels only have decades of development and can only mimic some simple structures/functions of organisms. Thus, today, it remains a huge challenge for us to explore new polymeric gels with novel bio-inspired structures, which will significantly enhance their functions and extend their applications in the future.

Therefore, this Special Issue on “Bio-Inspired Polymeric Gels and Their Applications” focuses on research on bio-mimetic polymeric gels (hydrogels, aerogels, organic gels, ionic liquid gels and their composites) and their applications. We are pleased to invite you to contribute your recent work to this Special Issue. Your work can be recent research articles, reviews, or prospects about bioinspired polymeric gels, including but not limited to bio-mimetic structures, stimuli-responsive shape/color changes, self-healing, anti-biofouling, high-strength functions, adsorption, wearable sensing, and bio-medicine applications.

Dr. Chunxin Ma
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Gels is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bio-inspired polymeric gels
  • bio-mimetic structures
  • stimuli responsiveness
  • self-healing gels
  • anti-biofouling gels
  • high-strength gels
  • gel adsorbers
  • wearable sensing devices
  • bio-medicine applications

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 3757 KiB  
Article
Anisotropic Bi-Layer Hydrogel Actuator with pH-Responsive Color-Changing and Photothermal-Responsive Shape-Changing Bi-Functional Synergy
by Chao Ma, Shuyi Peng, Lian Chen, Xingyu Cao, Ye Sun, Lin Chen, Lang Yang, Chunming Ma, Qijie Liu, Zhenzhong Liu and Shaohua Jiang
Gels 2023, 9(6), 438; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9060438 - 25 May 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1904
Abstract
Stimuli-responsive color-changing and shape-changing hydrogels are promising intelligent materials for visual detections and bio-inspired actuations, respectively. However, it is still an early stage to integrate the color-changing performance and shape-changing performance together to provide bi-functional synergistic biomimetic devices, which are difficult to design [...] Read more.
Stimuli-responsive color-changing and shape-changing hydrogels are promising intelligent materials for visual detections and bio-inspired actuations, respectively. However, it is still an early stage to integrate the color-changing performance and shape-changing performance together to provide bi-functional synergistic biomimetic devices, which are difficult to design but will greatly expand further applications of intelligent hydrogels. Herein, we present an anisotropic bi-layer hydrogel by combining a pH-responsive rhodamine-B (RhB)-functionalized fluorescent hydrogel layer and a photothermal-responsive shape-changing melanin-added poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogel layer with fluorescent color-changing and shape-changing bi-functional synergy. This bi-layer hydrogel can obtain fast and complex actuations under irradiation with 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) light due to both the melanin-composited PNIPAM hydrogel with high efficiency of photothermal conversion and the anisotropic structure of this bi-hydrogel. Furthermore, the RhB-functionalized fluorescent hydrogel layer can provide rapid pH-responsive fluorescent color change, which can be integrated with NIR-responsive shape change to achieve bi-functional synergy. As a result, this bi-layer hydrogel can be designed using various biomimetic devices, which can show the actuating process in the dark for real-time tracking and even mimetic starfish to synchronously change both the color and shape. This work provides a new bi-layer hydrogel biomimetic actuator with color-changing and shape-changing bi-functional synergy, which will inspire new strategies for other intelligent composite materials and high-level biomimetic devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Inspired Polymeric Gels and Their Applications)
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15 pages, 6139 KiB  
Article
A Nanoclay-Enhanced Hydrogel for Self-Adhesive Wearable Electrophysiology Electrodes with High Sensitivity and Stability
by Fushuai Wang, Lang Yang, Ye Sun, Yiming Cai, Xin Xu, Zhenzhong Liu, Qijie Liu, Hongliang Zhao, Chunxin Ma and Jun Liu
Gels 2023, 9(4), 323; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9040323 - 11 Apr 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2630
Abstract
Hydrogel-based wet electrodes are the most important biosensors for electromyography (EMG), electrocardiogram (ECG), and electroencephalography (EEG); but, are limited by poor strength and weak adhesion. Herein, a new nanoclay-enhanced hydrogel (NEH) has been reported, which can be fabricated simply by dispersing nanoclay sheets [...] Read more.
Hydrogel-based wet electrodes are the most important biosensors for electromyography (EMG), electrocardiogram (ECG), and electroencephalography (EEG); but, are limited by poor strength and weak adhesion. Herein, a new nanoclay-enhanced hydrogel (NEH) has been reported, which can be fabricated simply by dispersing nanoclay sheets (Laponite XLS) into the precursor solution (containing acrylamide, N, N′-Methylenebisacrylamide, ammonium persulfate, sodium chloride, glycerin) and then thermo-polymerizing at 40 °C for 2 h. This NEH, with a double-crosslinked network, has nanoclay-enhanced strength and self-adhesion for wet electrodes with excellent long-term stability of electrophysiology signals. First of all, among existing hydrogels for biological electrodes, this NEH has outstanding mechanical performance (93 kPa of tensile strength and 1326% of breaking elongation) and adhesion (14 kPa of adhesive force), owing to the double-crosslinked network of the NEH and the composited nanoclay, respectively. Furthermore, this NEH can still maintain a good water-retaining property (it can remain at 65.4% of its weight after 24 h at 40 °C and 10% humidity) for excellent long-term stability of signals, on account of the glycerin in the NEH. In the stability test of skin–electrode impedance at the forearm, the impedance of the NEH electrode can be stably kept at about 100 kΩ for more than 6 h. As a result, this hydrogel-based electrode can be applied for a wearable self-adhesive monitor to highly sensitively and stably acquire EEG/ECG electrophysiology signals of the human body over a relatively long time. This work provides a promising wearable self-adhesive hydrogel-based electrode for electrophysiology sensing; which, will also inspire the development of new strategies to improve electrophysiological sensors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Inspired Polymeric Gels and Their Applications)
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14 pages, 5242 KiB  
Article
An Anisotropic Hydrogel by Programmable Ionic Crosslinking for Sequential Two-Stage Actuation under Single Stimulus
by Yanjing Zhang, Xingyu Cao, Yuyu Zhao, Huahuo Li, Shengwei Xiao, Zhangxin Chen, Guobo Huang, Ye Sun, Zhenzhong Liu and Zhicai He
Gels 2023, 9(4), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9040279 - 29 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2352
Abstract
As one of the most important anisotropic intelligent materials, bi-layer stimuli-responsive actuating hydrogels have proven their wide potential in soft robots, artificial muscles, biosensors, and drug delivery. However, they can commonly provide a simple one-actuating process under one external stimulus, which severely limits [...] Read more.
As one of the most important anisotropic intelligent materials, bi-layer stimuli-responsive actuating hydrogels have proven their wide potential in soft robots, artificial muscles, biosensors, and drug delivery. However, they can commonly provide a simple one-actuating process under one external stimulus, which severely limits their further application. Herein, we have developed a new anisotropic hydrogel actuator by local ionic crosslinking on the poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) hydrogel layer of the bi-layer hydrogel for sequential two-stage bending under a single stimulus. Under pH = 13, ionic-crosslinked PAA networks undergo shrinking (-COO−/Fe3+ complexation) and swelling (water absorption) processes. As a combination of Fe3+ crosslinked PAA hydrogel (PAA@Fe3+) with non-swelling poly(3-(1-(4-vinylbenzyl)-1H-imidazol-3-ium-3-yl)propane-1-sulfonate) (PZ) hydrogel, the as-prepared PZ-PAA@Fe3+ bi-layer hydrogel exhibits distinct fast and large-amplitude bidirectional bending behavior. Such sequential two-stage actuation, including bending orientation, angle, and velocity, can be controlled by pH, temperature, hydrogel thickness, and Fe3+ concentration. Furthermore, hand-patterning Fe3+ to crosslink with PAA enables us to achieve various complex 2D and 3D shape transformations. Our work provides a new bi-layer hydrogel system that performs sequential two-stage bending without switching external stimuli, which will inspire the design of programmable and versatile hydrogel-based actuators. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Inspired Polymeric Gels and Their Applications)
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10 pages, 2077 KiB  
Communication
Bionic Aerogel with a Lotus Leaf-like Structure for Efficient Oil-Water Separation and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding
by Fengqi Liu, Yonggang Jiang, Junzong Feng, Liangjun Li and Jian Feng
Gels 2023, 9(3), 214; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9030214 - 10 Mar 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2131
Abstract
Increasing pollution from industrial wastewater containing oils or organic solvents poses a serious threat to both the environment and human health. Compared to complex chemical modifications, bionic aerogels with intrinsic hydrophobic properties exhibit better durability and are considered as ideal adsorbents for oil-water [...] Read more.
Increasing pollution from industrial wastewater containing oils or organic solvents poses a serious threat to both the environment and human health. Compared to complex chemical modifications, bionic aerogels with intrinsic hydrophobic properties exhibit better durability and are considered as ideal adsorbents for oil-water separation. However, the construction of biomimetic three-dimensional (3D) structures by simple methods is still a great challenge. Here, we prepared biomimetic superhydrophobic aerogels with lotus leaf-like structures by growing carbon coatings on Al2O3 nanorod-carbon nanotube hybrid backbones. Thanks to its multicomponent synergy and unique structure, this fascinating aerogel can be directly obtained through a simple conventional sol-gel and carbonization process. The aerogels exhibit excellent oil-water separation (22 g·g−1), recyclability (over 10 cycles) and dye adsorption properties (186.2 mg·g−1 for methylene blue). In addition, benefiting from the conductive porous structure, the aerogels also demonstrate outstanding electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding capabilities (~40 dB in X-band). This work presents fresh insights for the preparation of multifunctional biomimetic aerogels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Inspired Polymeric Gels and Their Applications)
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17 pages, 4067 KiB  
Article
Eco-Friendly Starch Composite Supramolecular Alginate–Ca2+ Hydrogel as Controlled-Release P Fertilizer with Low Responsiveness to Multiple Environmental Stimuli
by Supattra Tiamwong, Pratchayaporn Yukhajon, Pittayagorn Noisong, Maliwan Subsadsana and Sira Sansuk
Gels 2023, 9(3), 204; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9030204 - 7 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2340
Abstract
Environmentally friendly fertilizers (EFFs) have been developed to improve fertilizer efficiency and minimize adverse environmental impacts, but their release behavior under various environmental conditions has been less explored. Using phosphorus (P) in the form of phosphate as a model nutrient, we present a [...] Read more.
Environmentally friendly fertilizers (EFFs) have been developed to improve fertilizer efficiency and minimize adverse environmental impacts, but their release behavior under various environmental conditions has been less explored. Using phosphorus (P) in the form of phosphate as a model nutrient, we present a simple method for preparing EFFs based on incorporating the nutrient into polysaccharide supramolecular hydrogels using Cassava starch in the Ca2+-induced cross-link gelation of alginate. The optimal conditions for creating these starch-regulated phosphate hydrogel beads (s-PHBs) were determined, and their release characteristics were initially evaluated in deionized water and then under various environmental stimuli, including pH, temperature, ionic strength, and water hardness. We found that incorporating a starch composite in s-PHBs at pH = 5 resulted in a rough but rigid surface and improved their physical and thermal stability, compared with phosphate hydrogel beads without starch (PHBs), due to the dense hydrogen bonding-supramolecular networks. Additionally, the s-PHBs showed controlled phosphate-release kinetics, following a parabolic diffusion with reduced initial burst effects. Importantly, the developed s-PHBs exhibited a promising low responsiveness to environmental stimuli for phosphate release even under extreme conditions and when tested in rice field water samples, suggesting their potential as a universally effective option for large-scale agricultural activities and potential value for commercial production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Inspired Polymeric Gels and Their Applications)
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