Acosta-Cuevas José M, González-García José, García-Ramírez Mario, Pérez-Luna Víctor H, Cisneros-López Erick Omar, González-Nuñez Rubén, González-Reynoso Orfil
Chemical Engineering Department, CUCEI, Universidad de Guadalajara, Blvd.M. García Barragán # 1451, Guadalajara C.P. 44430, Jalisco, Mexico.
Electronics Department, CUCEI, Universidad de Guadalajara, Blvd.M. García Barragán # 1451, Guadalajara C.P. 44430, Jalisco, Mexico.
Micromachines (Basel). 2021 Mar 10;12(3):293. doi: 10.3390/mi12030293.
Photopolymerized microparticles are made of biocompatible hydrogels like Polyethylene Glycol Diacrylate (PEGDA) by using microfluidic devices are a good option for encapsulation, transport and retention of biological or toxic agents. Due to the different applications of these microparticles, it is important to investigate the formulation and the mechanical properties of the material of which they are made of. Therefore, in the present study, mechanical tests were carried out to determine the swelling, drying, soluble fraction, compression, cross-linking density (Mc) and mesh size (ξ) properties of different hydrogel formulations. Tests provided sufficient data to select the best formulation for the future generation of microparticles using microfluidic devices. The initial gelation times of the hydrogels formulations were estimated for their use in the photopolymerization process inside a microfluidic device. Obtained results showed a close relationship between the amount of PEGDA used in the hydrogel and its mechanical properties as well as its initial gelation time. Consequently, it is of considerable importance to know the mechanical properties of the hydrogels made in this research for their proper manipulation and application. On the other hand, the initial gelation time is crucial in photopolymerizable hydrogels and their use in continuous systems such as microfluidic devices.
通过微流控装置制备的光聚合微粒由生物相容性水凝胶(如聚乙二醇二丙烯酸酯(PEGDA))制成,是封装、运输和保留生物或有毒试剂的良好选择。由于这些微粒的应用不同,研究其组成材料的配方和机械性能很重要。因此,在本研究中,进行了力学测试,以确定不同水凝胶配方的溶胀、干燥、可溶部分、压缩、交联密度(Mc)和网孔尺寸(ξ)特性。测试提供了足够的数据,以便为使用微流控装置的下一代微粒选择最佳配方。估计了水凝胶配方的初始凝胶化时间,以便在微流控装置内的光聚合过程中使用。获得的结果表明,水凝胶中使用的PEGDA量与其机械性能以及初始凝胶化时间之间存在密切关系。因此,了解本研究中制备的水凝胶的机械性能对于其正确操作和应用至关重要。另一方面,初始凝胶化时间在可光聚合水凝胶及其在微流控装置等连续系统中的应用中至关重要。