Hydrogel films and coatings by swelling-induced gelation.
Hydrogel films used as membranes or coatings are essential components of devices interfaced with biological systems. Their design is greatly challenged by the need to find mild synthesis and processing conditions that preserve their biocompatibility and the integrity of encapsulated compounds. Here, we report an approach to produce hydrogel films spontaneously in aqueous polymer solutions. This method uses the solvent depletion created at the surface of swelling polymer substrates to induce the gelation of a thin layer of polymer solution. Using a biocompatible polymer that self-assembles at high concentration [poly(vinyl alcohol)], hydrogel films were produced within minutes to hours with thicknesses ranging from tens to hundreds of micrometers. A simple model and numerical simulations of mass transport during swelling capture the experiments and predict how film growth depends on the solution composition, substrate geometry, and swelling properties. The versatility of the approach was verified with a variety of swelling substrates and hydrogel-forming solutions. We also demonstrate the potential of this technique by incorporating other solutes such as inorganic particles to fabricate ceramic-hydrogel coatings for bone anchoring and cells to fabricate cell-laden membranes for cell culture or tissue engineering.
MINES ParisTech, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Centre des Matériaux, CNRS UMR 7633, 91003 Evry, France.|ESPCI Paris, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Laboratoire Matière Molle et Chimie, CNRS UMR 7167, 75005 Paris, France.
David
D
Moreau
INSERM, UMR-S 1124, 75270 Paris Cedex 06, France.|Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris 75006, France.
Caroline
C
Chauvet
INSERM, UMR-S 1124, 75270 Paris Cedex 06, France.|Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris 75006, France.
François
F
Etienne
INSERM, UMR-S 1124, 75270 Paris Cedex 06, France.|Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris 75006, France.|Université Paris Descartes, Pôle de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur Sorbonne Paris Cité, Service de Rééducation et Réadaptation de l'Appareil Locomoteur et des Pathologies du Rachis, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75014 Paris, France.
François P
FP
Rannou
MINES ParisTech, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Centre des Matériaux, CNRS UMR 7633, 91003 Evry, France; laurent.corte@mines-paristech.fr.|ESPCI Paris, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Laboratoire Matière Molle et Chimie, CNRS UMR 7167, 75005 Paris, France.
Laurent
0000-0002-9732-3265
L
Corté
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008756:Methylgalactosides / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D020100:Hydrogels; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008756:Methylgalactosides; D011108:Polymers; D012996:Solutions; C109801:hydrogel film; D014867:Water
associative polymers; cell culture; hydrogel coating; hydrogel film; tissue engineering