The Effects of Ethanol Concentration and Buffer pH on the Nanostructure and Mechanical Response of Hydrogels
Mentor 1
Ionel Popa
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
5-4-2019 1:30 PM
End Date
5-4-2019 3:30 PM
Description
The porous structure formed by the filaments of specifically engineered hydrogels resembles the extracellular matrix (ECM), providing an environment for cells to grow and the engineering of artificial tissues. The examination and fine-tuning of the nanostructure and mechanical response of bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein hydrogels provides insight into developing a hydrogel scaffold better equipped to serve as a medium for artificial tissue growth. Here, we synthesize BSA hydrogel samples through a photoactivated reaction. These hydrogels are treated with different concentrations of ethanol from 20% to 100% and subjected to buffers of varying pH. We use scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate the nanostructure of the hydrogels and force-clamp rheometer to measure their mechanical behavior. SEM images showed that ethanol treatment can induce nanofiber formation. Force-clamp rheometer measurements show a stiffening of the hydrogels in the presence of ethanol and partial unfolding in acidic environments. These findings are the first step toward establishing a cell growth substrate that not only matches the stiffness of the ECM, but also its nanostructure.
The Effects of Ethanol Concentration and Buffer pH on the Nanostructure and Mechanical Response of Hydrogels
Union Wisconsin Room
The porous structure formed by the filaments of specifically engineered hydrogels resembles the extracellular matrix (ECM), providing an environment for cells to grow and the engineering of artificial tissues. The examination and fine-tuning of the nanostructure and mechanical response of bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein hydrogels provides insight into developing a hydrogel scaffold better equipped to serve as a medium for artificial tissue growth. Here, we synthesize BSA hydrogel samples through a photoactivated reaction. These hydrogels are treated with different concentrations of ethanol from 20% to 100% and subjected to buffers of varying pH. We use scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate the nanostructure of the hydrogels and force-clamp rheometer to measure their mechanical behavior. SEM images showed that ethanol treatment can induce nanofiber formation. Force-clamp rheometer measurements show a stiffening of the hydrogels in the presence of ethanol and partial unfolding in acidic environments. These findings are the first step toward establishing a cell growth substrate that not only matches the stiffness of the ECM, but also its nanostructure.
