Low-Cost Advanced Hydrogels of Calcium Alginate/Carbon Nanofibers with Enhanced Water Diffusion and Compression Properties

Polymers

Mar Llorens-Gámez¹  Ángel Serrano-Aroca² 

[1] Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain;Facultad de Veterinaria y Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, C/Guillem de Castro 94, 46001 Valencia, Spain;

关键词: carbon nanofibers;    calcium alginate;    composite hydrogels;    water diffusion;    compression performance;    Raman spectroscopy;    electron microscopy;   

DOI  :  10.3390/polym10040405

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

A series of alginate films was synthesised with several calcium chloride cross-linker contents (from 3 to 18% w/w) with and without a very low amount (0.1% w/w) of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in order to reduce the production costs as much as possible. The results of this study showed a very significant enhancement of liquid water diffusion and mechanical compressive modulus for high calcium chloride contents when this minuscule amount of CNFs is incorporated into calcium alginate hydrogels. These excellent results are attributed to a double cross-linking process, in which calcium cations are capable of cross-linking both alginate chains and CNFs creating a reinforced structure exhibiting ultrafast water diffusion through carbon nanochannels. Thus, these excellent results render these new alginate composites very promising for many bioengineering fields in need of low-cost advanced hydrogels with superior water diffusion and compression properties.

【 授权许可】

Unknown