Three-dimensional printing technologies exhibit tremendous potential in the advancing fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine due to the precise spatial control over depositing the biomaterial. Despite their widespread utilization and numerous advantages, the development of suitable novel biomaterials for extrusion-based 3D printing of scaffolds that support cell attachment, proliferation, and vascularization remains a challenge. Multi-material composite hydrogels present incredible potential in this field. Thus, in this work, a multi-material composite hydrogel with a promising formulation of chitosan/gelatin functionalized with egg white was developed, which provides good printability and shape fidelity. In addition, a series of comparative analyses of different crosslinking agents and processes based on tripolyphosphate (TPP), genipin (GP), and glutaraldehyde (GTA) were investigated and compared to select the ideal crosslinking strategy to enhance the physicochemical and biological properties of the fabricated scaffolds. All of the results indicate that the composite hydrogel and the resulting scaffolds utilizing TPP crosslinking have great potential in tissue engineering, especially for supporting neo-vessel growth into the scaffold and promoting angiogenesis within engineered tissues.

Diese Arbeit liefert Informationen über die neuartige Synthese von physikalischen durch Glycin vernetzten Cellulosehydrogelen. Ihre Herstellung, Morphologie, Wasseraufnahmevermögen, mechanische und thermische Eigenschaften, Wiederverwendbarkeit und Stabilität werden detailliert beschrieben. Die Arbeit präsentiert eine umfassende Studie über die Herstellung, Charakterisierung, Morphologie und thermischen Eigenschaften von Hydrogelen und validiert die Verwendung von Cellulose-Glycin-Hydrogelen für Anwendungen mit abgeschiedenen Goldnanopartikeln. / This thesis provides information about the novel synthesis of cellulose hydrogels physically crosslinked by glycine; their fabrication, morphology, water absorption capacity, mechanical properties, thermal properties, reusability, stability and gold nanoparticle deposition. The work validates also the use of cellulose–glycine hydrogels for gold nanoparticle deposition applications and presents a comprehensive study of gold nanoparticle deposited hydrogels about their fabrication, characterization, morphology and thermal properties.

The overall aim of this thesis was to establish strategies to minimize secondary damage to the injured spinal cord. Secondary damage that follows spinal cord injury (SCI) involves inflammatory and excitotoxic pathways. Regulation of these pathways using immunomodulatory and neuroprotective substances potentially protects the injured spinal cord from further damage. We also developed and studied resorbable biomaterials to be used as carriers for potential neuroprotectants to the injured spinal cord. We used transversal spinal cord slice cultures (SCSCs) derived from postnatal mice as a model. SCSCs were maintained on different biomaterials and were studied after treatment with immunomodulatory and/or neurotrophic factors. They were further excitotoxically injured and subsequently treated with interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL1RA) or by neural crest stem cell (NCSC)-transplantation. The results show that biocompatible and resorbable hydrogels based on hyaluronic acid (HA) preserved neurons in SCSCs to a much higher extent than a conventional collagen-based biomaterial or standard polyethylene terephthalate (PET) membrane inserts. Glial activation was limited in the cultures maintained on HA-based hydrogel. The anti-inflammatory factor IL1RA protected SCSCs from degenerative mechanisms that occur during in vitro incubation, and IL1RA also protected SCSCs from excitotoxic injury induced by N-Methyl-d-Aspartate (NMDA). IL1RA specifically protected neurons that resided in the ventral horn, while other neuronal populations such as dorsal horn neurons and Renshaw cells did not respond to treatment. Finally, transplantation of NCSCs onto excitotoxically injured SCSCs protected from neuronal loss, apoptosis and glial activation, while NCSCs remained undifferentiated. The results presented in this thesis indicate that carriers based on HA seem to be more suitable than conventional collagen-based biomaterials since they enhance neuronal survival per se. The observed neuroprotection is likely due to biomechanical properties of HA. IL1RA protects SCSCs from spontaneous degeneration and from NMDA-induced injury, suggesting that excitotoxic mechanisms can be modulated through anti-inflammatory pathways. Different neuronal populations are affected by IL1RA to various degrees, suggesting that a combination of different neuroprotectants should be used in treatment strategies after SCI. Finally, NCSCs seem to protect SCSCs from excitotoxic injury through paracrine actions, since they remain undifferentiated and do not migrate into the tissue during in vitro incubation. It seems that combinations of neuroprotectants and carrier substances should be considered rather than one single strategy when designing future treatments for SCI. Incorporation of neuroprotectants such as IL1RA combined with stem cells in injectable biocompatible carriers based on HA is the final goal of our group in the treatment of SCI.

Lignocellulosic biomass is believed to serve a prominent role in tomorrow’s sustainable energy and material development. Among the polysaccharide fractions of lignocellulosic biomass, the potential of hemicelluloses as a valuable material resource is increasingly recognized. Thanks to their hydrophilic structure, hemicelluloses are suitable substrates for hydrogel design. The work summarized in this thesis aims to develop feasible strategies for the conversion of O-acetyl galactoglucomannan (AcGGM), an ample hemicellulose in softwood, into hydrogels. Within this framework, four synthetic pathways targeting the formation of crosslinked hydrogel networks from pure or unrefined AcGGM fractions were developed.   Aqueous AcGGM-rich and lignin-containing side-stream process liquors of forest industry, known as softwood hydrolysates (SWHs) were formulated into highly swellable hydrogels by: i) allyl-functionalization of AcGGM chains of crude SWH to obtain a viable precursor for hydrogel synthesis via free-radical crosslinking, ii) directly incorporating unmodified SWH fractions into semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs). SWH hydrogels and semi-IPNs were characterized with appreciable maximum swelling ratios of Qeq = 170 and Qeq = 225, respectively.   Rapid crosslinking of AcGGM through thiol-click chemistry was addressed by first imparting thiol functionality onto pure AcGGM chains in a one-pot procedure. The thiolated AcGGM proved to be a suitable substrate for the synthesis of hemicellulose hydrogels via thiol-ene and thiol Michael addition reactions. Finally, sequential full IPNs were developed by subjecting single network hydrogels of pure AcGGM to a second network formation. IPNs obtained through either free radical crosslinking or thiol-ene crosslinking exhibited higher shear storage moduli than their single network counterparts. / <p>QC 20161102</p>

Smart hydrogels are useful elements in microfluidic systems because they respond to environmental stimuli and are capable of storing reagents. We present here a concept of using hydrogels (poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)) as an interface between continuous and discontinuous microfluidics. Their swelling and shrinking capabilities allow them to act as storage elements for reagents absorbed in the swelling process. When the swollen hydrogel collapses in an oil-filled channel, the incorporated water and molecules are expelled from the hydrogel and form a water reservoir. Water-in-oil droplets can be released from the reservoir generating different sized droplets depending on the flow regime at various oil flow rates (dispensing functionality). Different hydrogel sizes and microfluidic structures are discussed in terms of their storage and droplet formation capabilities. The time behaviour of the hydrogel element is investigated by dynamic swelling experiments and computational fluid dynamics simulations. By precise temperature control, the device acts as an active droplet generator and converts continuous to discontinuous flows.

Desde o início da espécie humana, houve quem procurasse auxiliar o corpo na tentativa natural de restaurar suas partes injuriadas. Um dos grandes desafios atuais é a substituição de tecidos do organismo, inclusive em áreas de lesão cutânea. Um biomaterial pode ser utilizado para melhorar, aumentar ou substituir, parcial ou inteiramente tecidos ou órgãos. A membrana de celulose bacteriana (CB) possui moldabilidade, boas propriedades mecânicas, permeabilidade seletiva, permitindo a passagem de vapor d\'água, mas impedindo a passagem de microrganismos. O colágeno (COL) vem sendo amplamente usado como material na fabricação de biomateriais. Neste trabalho obteve-se membrana e hidrogel de CB-COL, caracterizados de diferentes maneiras. Foram realizados, estudos in vivo, análises macroscópica e histológica de coberturas de CB-COL, comparando com os controles (coágulo e a pomada de colagenase), após a aplicação sobre as feridas confeccionadas no dorso de ratos. Os animais foram sacrificados depois de 3, 7, 15 e 30 dias, e os dorsos processados segundo rotina histológica para coloração em HE. As caracterizações realizadas neste trabalho (microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), análise termogravimétrica (TG), espectroscopia no infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FT-IR) e difratometria de raios-X (DRX)) confirmaram a incorporação do COL às matrizes de CB. A avaliação macroscópica somente demonstrou diferença estatisticamente significante da reparação tecidual entre os tratamentos aos sete dias de pós-operatório, sendo que o hidrogel apresentou uma tendência para uma reparação mais rápida. Os resultados da avaliação histológica demonstraram diferença estatisticamente significante para reação inflamatória tecidual entre os tratamentos em todos os períodos estudados. Na avaliação da qualidade, quantidade e orientação das fibras colágenas, somente o período de três dias que não apresentou diferença estatisticamente significante entre os tratamentos. Conclui-se com esses resultados que as duas coberturas são biocompatíveis. / Since the beginning of the human race, there was those who sought to assist the body in a natural attempt to restore yours injured parts. One of the main current challenges is the replacement of body tissues, including areas of skin lesion. A biomaterial can be used to improve, enhance or replace, partially or fully tissues or organs. The membrane of bacterial cellulose (BC) has moldability, good mechanical properties, selective permeability, allowing the passage of water vapor but preventing the passage of microorganisms. The collagen (COL) has been widely used as material in the manufacture of biomaterials. In this study was obtained hydrogel and membrane BC-COL, characterized in different ways. Were realized in vivo studies, macroscopic and histological analyzes from dressings of BC-COL, comparing with controls (clot and collagenase ointment), after applying in wounds on the backs of rats. The animals were sacrificed after 3, 7, 15 and 30 days, and the scars were processed according to histological routine to HE staining. The characterizations performed in this study (scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared spectroscopy with Fourier transform (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD)) confirmed the incorporation of the COL to matrices BC. The macroscopic evaluation only demonstrated statistically significant difference of tissue repair between treatments at seven days postoperative, and the hydrogel showed a trend for a faster repair. The results of the histological evaluation showed statistically significant difference in inflammatory tissue reaction between treatments in all periods studied. In quality evaluation, quantity and orientation of collagen fibers, only three days period didnt show statistically significant difference between treatments. We conclude from these results that the two dressings are biocompatible.

The present work is synthesizing novel protein-based superabsorbent hydrogels from albumin protein (AP) and isolated zygomycetes protein (IZP) via modification with an acylating reagent and a bifunctional crosslinker, also investigation on their swelling behaviors under some conditions. The hydrophilic acylating reagent was introduced into albumin and zygomycetes proteins and hydrophylicity of albumin and isolated zygomycetes protein were increased by ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride (EDTAD). Provided protein hydrogels through this method include modification of lysyl residues in the unfolded proteins via adding of one or more hydrophilic carboxyl groups. The reaction was developed with a dialdehyde crosslinking reagent (glutaraldehyde) in order to stabilize the modified protein configuration. The maximum capacity of EDTAD-AP hydrogel swelling was observed 296 g water per g of dry gel, and for EDTAD-IZP hydrogel was 87 g water per g of dry gel.In this study, effect of selected physical and chemical parameters such as protein structure, extent of modification, protein concentration, various pH, ionic strength, gel particle size, temperature as important factors affecting the water uptake behavior of superabsorbent hydrogel were investigated. In addition, the effect of some organic solvents particularly absolute ethanol for increasing the swelling properties was studied. / Uppsatsnivå: D

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T17:37:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Michelle_Cristina_Ajala.pdf: 881476 bytes, checksum: 0026973c05e1d9584bc3f31db5381e4b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-08-07 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This study aimed to compare containers for seedling production and to test the addition of hydrogel at planting of physic nut in West of Paraná. In the first experiment seedlings were produced with different volumes of containers, which were measured twice a month for height of the seedlings, collar diameter and percentage of survival. Them the seedlings were taken to field where they were measured every three months for seedling height, collar diameter, percentage of survival, number of branches, number of junctions, number of leaves and leaf area index. In a second test seedlings were produced from three different provenances, and had been added hydrogel at planting. This study showed the best results to the tubettes of 120 cm3, it also showed higher averages in percentage of survival (84,38%) while the mean in height increases did not differ statistically in treatment bags, which showed the highest average for this variable increments (1,48 cm). In field developing there was no significance differences in any of the variables. In the second test were not significant differences between the provenances, and between the use of hydrogel or not. Thus the use of hidrorretentor was not necessary to the seedlings of physic nut planted during spring in Paraná / Este trabalho objetivou comparar recipientes para produção de mudas de pinhão manso no oeste paranaense e testar a adição de hidrogel no momento do plantio em mudas de pinhão manso. No primeiro ensaio foram produzidas mudas com diferentes volumes de recipientes, nos quais foram mensuradas quinzenalmente a altura das mudas, o diâmetro de colo e a porcentagem de sobrevivência e após levadas a campo foram mensuradas trimestralmente altura das mudas, diâmetro de colo, porcentagem de sobrevivência, número de ramos, número de bifurcações, número de folhas e índices de área foliar. Em um segundo ensaio foram produzidas mudas oriundas de três procedências distintas, nas quais foram adicionados um hidrogel, no plantio. Com este estudo pode-se perceber que o recipiente que apresentou melhores resultados foi o tubete de 120 cm3, pois apresentou maiores médias em porcentagem de sobrevivência (84,38%) enquanto as médias em incrementos em altura não diferiram estatisticamente do tratamento sacos plásticos, o qual apresentou maiores incrementos médios para esta variável (1,48 cm). No desenvolvimento a campo não houve significância em nenhuma das variáveis analisadas. No segundo ensaio também não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre as procedências, assim como entre o uso ou não de hidrogel, ou seja, não sendo necessário o uso deste hidrorretentor em mudas de pinhão manso plantadas na primavera no este paranaense

This thesis investigates the feasibility of loading silicone hydrogel (SiHy) contact lenses with two different hydrophobic therapeutics, latanoprost and DMPC (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine), for treatment of glaucoma and hyperemia respectively. The two methods of loading were 1) thermal loading in an aqueous medium and 2) convective loading in a solution of n-propanol. Dailies Total1® lenses prepared in this manner were tested for their loading and their release into artificial tears. Continuous release over 1-4 days at therapeutic levels is achievable from thermal loading of DMPC, convective loading of DMPC, and convective loading of latanoprost. The DMPC loading processes can be naturally integrated into standard manufacturing lines for Dailies Total1®. Both DMPC and latanoprost release at rates proportional to the amount loaded into a contact lens. Latanoprost loads into a contact lens strictly proportionally to the loading concentration and the time of loading. The convective loading step represents a significant improvement on both the time of loading (reduced from days to minutes) and the loading capacity of silicone hydrogel contact lenses. This thesis also compares the loading and release of latanoprost in the convective loading procedure using the SiHy contact lenses of Acuvue Advance® (Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Jacksonville, FL) , Air Optix® (Alcon, Copenhagen, Denmark), Biofinity® (CooperVision), PureVision® (Bausch & Lomb), and Dailies Total1® (Alcon), and the polyHEMA lens, SofLens 38® (Bausch & Lomb), finding that silicone hydrogels load an order of magnitude more drug than the polyHEMA lens and release into artificial tears for an order of magnitude longer. Overall, these experiments provide a quantitative understanding of the dynamics of loading and release for both DMPC and latanoprost.

Orientador: Fauze Ahmad Aouada / Resumo: Os hidrogéis são polímeros hidrorretentores reticulados, que são capazes de reter e absorver grande quantidade de água. A combinação de polissacarídeos e nanoargila na matriz polimérica otimiza o desenvolvimento de materiais biodegradáveis e nanoestruturados que podem ser utilizados na agricultura. Nesta dissertação foram preparados e caracterizados hidrogéis nanoestruturados biodegradáveis, afim de aplicá-lo como um acelerador no crescimento de mudas de hortaliça. Os hidrogéis foram preparados fixando as concentrações de acrilamida (AAm) em 6% m/v e carboximetilcelulose (CMC) em 1% m/v, e incorporando diferentes concentrações de nanoargila cloisita-Na+. Diferentes quantidades de hidrogéis foram incorporadas ao substrato e investigado a sua eficiência no cultivo de alface. Foram analisadas as propriedades hidrofílicas e cinéticas em água destilada e em soluções salinas. Os hidrogéis demonstraram excelentes resultados de intumescimento. A incorporação de nanoargila na matriz do polímero aumentou a velocidade de absorção de água (indicada pelo aumento da constante cinética k) quando intumescido em água destilada. A formação das redes poliméricas foi confirmada pela análise de espectroscopia no infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR). A difração do raios-x (DRX) e a espectroscopia de energia dispersiva de Raios-X (EDX) permitiu avaliar a conformação das plaquetas de nanoargila e os elementos químicos presente nos nanocompósitos, respectivamente. A microscopia eletrônica... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Hydrogels are water-retainer crosslinked polymers which are able to retain and absorb large quantities of water. The combination of polysaccharides and nanoclay in the polymeric matrix enhanced the development of nanostructured and biodegradable materials and it can be used in agriculture. In this work, nanostructured biodegradable hydrogels was prepared in order to improve germination and seedling quality of lettuce cultivation. The hydrogels were prepared by fixing the concentrations of acrylamide (AAm) in 6% w/v carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) in 1% w/v, containing different nanoclay Cloisite-Na+ concentrations. Different amounts of hydrogel were incorporated to the substrate and investigated their efficiency in lettuce cultivation. Hydrophilic and kinetic properties were investigated in distilled water and in saline solutions. The hydrogels showed excellent swelling degree results. Also, the incorporation of nanoclay in the polymer matrix increased the water absorption speed (indicated by an increase in kinetic constant k) when swollen in distilled water. The formation of polymer networks was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectroscopy X-ray (EDX) corfimed the conformation of the nanoclay platelets and chemical elements present in the nanocomposite, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed porous structures morphology with well-defined shapes, but with heterogeneity in... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre