Kang Byungjun, Shin Jisoo, Kang Donyoung, Chang Sooho, Rhyou Chanryeol, Cho Seung-Woo, Lee Hyungsuk
School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
Ultrason Sonochem. 2024 Nov;110:107053. doi: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2024.107053. Epub 2024 Sep 4.
Ultrasound is gaining attention as an alternative tool to regulate chemical processes due to its advantages such as high cost-effectiveness, rapid response, and contact-free operation. Previous studies have demonstrated that acoustic bubble cavitation can generate energy to synthesize functional materials. In this study, we introduce a method to control the spatial distribution of physical and chemical properties of hydrogels by using an ultrasound-mediated particle manipulation technique. We developed a surface acoustic wave device that can localize micro-hydrogel particles, which are formed during gelation, in a hydrogel solution. The hydrogel fabricated with the application of surface acoustic waves exhibited gradients in mechanical, mass transport, and structural properties. We demonstrated that the gel having the property gradients could be utilized as a cell-culture substrate dictating cellular shapes, which is beneficial for interfacial tissue engineering. The acoustic method and fabricated hydrogels with property gradients can be applied to design flexible polymeric materials for soft robotics, biomedical sensors, or bioelectronics applications.
由于具有高成本效益、快速响应和非接触操作等优点，超声作为一种调节化学过程的替代工具正受到关注。先前的研究表明，声泡空化可以产生能量来合成功能材料。在本研究中，我们介绍了一种通过使用超声介导的粒子操纵技术来控制水凝胶物理和化学性质空间分布的方法。我们开发了一种表面声波装置，该装置可以将凝胶化过程中形成的微水凝胶颗粒定位在水凝胶溶液中。通过施加表面声波制备的水凝胶在机械、传质和结构性质方面表现出梯度。我们证明，具有性质梯度的凝胶可以用作决定细胞形状的细胞培养底物，这对界面组织工程有益。这种声学方法和制备的具有性质梯度的水凝胶可应用于设计用于软机器人、生物医学传感器或生物电子应用的柔性聚合物材料。
