Highly responsive hydrogel scaffolds formed by three-dimensional organization of microgel nanoparticles.
We present a robust and straightforward method for fabricating remarkably responsive hydrogel scaffolds consisting of submicron-sized microgel particles. We demonstrate that the microgel particles assemble either through bridging or depletion interactions to yield a structure that swells or deswells at a macroscopic level in much shorter times as compared to a bulk polymer gel of similar characteristics. This approach offers a new way of fabricating functional hydrogel scaffolds with controllable responsiveness to applied stimuli and excellent loading capability for a wide variety of materials, irrespective of chemistry, size, and shape.
Cho
Eun Chul
EC
Amore-Pacific Company Research and Development Center, 314-1, Bora-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-Do, 446-729, Korea.
Kim
Jin-Woong
JW
Fernandez-Nieves
Alberto
A
Weitz
David A
DA