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Controlling Material Properties of Ionically Cross-Linked Alginate Hydrogels by Varying Molecular Weight Distribution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2011

Hyun-Joon Kong  and
David J. Mooney
Hyun-Joon Kong
Affiliation:
Department of Biologic & Materials Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
David J. Mooney
Affiliation:
Department of Biologic & Materials Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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Abstract

The mechanical properties of alginate hydrogels are critical to their successful use in tissue engineering. We hypothesized that combining alginates of differing molecular weights would allow one to readily control and decouple the viscosity of the pre-gel solution from the post-gel stiffness. To test this, binary hydrogels were prepared by incorporating low molecular weight (MW) alginate (Mn ~ 3.3 x 104 g/mol) into 1 %(w/w) alginate solutions composed of high MW alginate (Mn ~ 2.2 x 105 g/mol). The addition of low MW alginate had minimal effects on the solution viscosity, allowing high solids loading in the solution while maintaining a workable solution. However, the increased mass loading resulted in much higher stiffness gels following ionic cross-linking with calcium. These data may be interpreted in relation to the microstructure of the solution versus hydrogel.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 711: Symposia FF/GG/HH – Advanced Biomaterials--Characterization, Tissue Engineering and Complexity , 2001 , GG5.7.1
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2002

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References

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