scholarly journals Structural Mechanism for Alteration of Collagen Gel Mechanics by Glutaraldehyde Crosslinking

Author(s):  
Preethi L. Chandran ◽  
Dezba G. Coughlin ◽  
David C. Paik ◽  
Jeffrey W. Holmes

Cross-linking of fibrous collagenous tissues occurs during late-stage wound healing and during aging. The attendant changes in micro-scale kinematics and macro-scale mechanics are not well understood. In this study we used glutaraldehyde as a model cross-linking agent, and in vitro reconstituted collagen gel as a model collagenous tissue. Collagen gels are in vitro assembled hydrated networks of collagen fibrils. Glutaraldehyde is a commonly used cross-linking agent for bioprosthetic tissues and is chemically well-characterized. Glutaraldehyde cross-linking is known to decrease the deformability of arterial valves, but the micro-scale mechanism of its action is not known. In this study, collagen gels with anisotropic fibril orientation were subjected to increasing cross-link density, and the concurrent change in biaxial mechanical properties was monitored. The extent of cross-linking is determined by biochemical analysis. Structural modeling of the biaxial mechanics of a fibrous microstructure was performed for three potential cross-link mechanisms. The trends in the simulated mechanics for increasing cross-link density were compared against that of the experimental data.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Ishibashi ◽  
Ian Pierce ◽  
Alice Chang ◽  
Aristotelis Zografos ◽  
Bassil El-Zaatari ◽  
...  

<p>The composition of low-T<sub>g</sub> <i>n</i>-butylacrylate-<i>block</i>-(acetoxyaceto)ethyl acrylate block polymers is investigated as a strategy to tune the properties of dynamically cross-linked vinylogous urethane vitrimers. As the proportion of the cross-linkable block is increased, the thermorheological properties, structure, and stress relaxation evolve in ways that cannot be explained by increasing cross-link density alone. Evidence is presented that network connectivity defects such as loops and dangling ends are increased by microphase separation. The thermomechanical and viscoelastic properties of block copolymer-derived vitrimers arise from the subtle interplay of microphase separation and network defects.</p><div><br></div><p></p>


1998 ◽  
Vol 530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Eiselt ◽  
Jon A. Rowley ◽  
David J. Mooney

AbstractReconstruction of tissues and organs utilizing cell transplantation offers an attractive approach for the treatment of patients suffering from organ failure or loss. Highly porous synthetic materials are often used to mimic the function of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in tissue engineering, and serve as a cell delivery vehicle for the formation of tissues in vivo. Alginate, a linear copolysaccharide composed of D-mannuronic acid (M) and L-guluronic acid (G) units is widely used as a cell transplantation matrix. Alginate is considered to be biocompatible, and hydrogels are formed in the presence of divalent cations such as Ca2+, Ba2+ and Sr2+. However, ionically cross-linked alginate gels continuously lose their mechanical properties over time with uncontrollable degradation behavior. We have modified alginate via covalent coupling of cross-linking molecules to expand and stabilize the mechanical property ranges of these gels. Several diamino PEG molecules of varying molecular weight (200, 400, 1000, 3400) were synthesized utilizing carbodiimide chemistry. Sodium alginate was covalently cross-linked with these cross-linking molecules, and mechanical properties of the resulting hydrogels were determined. The elastic modulus of the cross-linked alginates depended on the molecular weight of the cross-linking molecules, and ranged from 10-110 kPa. The theoretical cross-link density in the hydrogels was also varied from 3 to 47% (relative to the carboxylic groups in the alginate) and the mechanical properties were measured. The elastic modulus increased gradually and reached a maximum at a cross-link density of 15%. In summary, covalently coupled hydrogels can be synthesized which exhibit a wide range of mechanical properties, and these materials may be useful in a number of tissue engineering applications.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Ján Kruželák ◽  
Andrea Kvasničáková ◽  
Elena Medlenová ◽  
Rastislav Dosoudil ◽  
Ivan Hudec

Rubber magnetic composites were prepared by incorporation of barium ferrite in constant amount—50 phr into acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber. Dicumyl peroxide as the curing agent was used for cross-linking of rubber magnets alone, or in combination with four different types of co-agents. The main aim was to examine the influence of curing system composition on magnetic and physical-mechanical properties of composites. The cross-link density and the structure of the formed cross-links were investigated too. The results demonstrated that the type and amount of the co-agent had significant influence on cross-link density, which was reflected in typical change of physical-mechanical properties. The tensile strength increased with increasing amount of co-agents, which can be attributed to the improvement of adhesion and compatibility on the interphase filler-rubber due to the presence of co-agents. Magnetic characteristics were found not to be influenced by the curing system composition. The application of peroxide curing systems consisting of organic peroxide and co-agents leads to the preparation of rubber magnets with not only good magnetic properties but also with improved physical-mechanical properties, which could broaden the sphere of their application uses.


1966 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 726-739 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. DiGiulio ◽  
G. Bellini ◽  
G. V. Giandinoto

Abstract After recalling the reaction mechanism suggested for the crosslinking of ethylene propylene copolymers with organic peroxides, the authors consider the relation between concentration of curing agent and crosslink density. It is experimentally found that, as a first approximation, the elongation ratio at break of vulcanizates (unfilled or filled with small quantities of carbon black) is a function of molar concentration of peroxide only: αR=K/P1/2 This relation can be theoretically justified on the basis of the extensibility of polymer chain segments and of the criterion for rupture originally put forward by Taylor and Darin. By applying the above relation to ethylene propylene copolymers it is possible to evaluate the influence of the chain-splitting reaction during cross-linking. The reciprocal of the square of elongation ratio at break (1/αR2) measures the total degree of crosslinking.


2016 ◽  
Vol 88 (12) ◽  
pp. 1103-1116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Massimo Polgar ◽  
Robin R.J. Cerpentier ◽  
Gijs H. Vermeij ◽  
Francesco Picchioni ◽  
Martin van Duin

Abstract It is well-known that the properties of cross-linked rubbers are strongly affected by the cross-link density. In this work it is shown that for thermoreversibly cross-linked elastomers, the type and length of the cross-linker also have a significant effect. A homologous series of diamine and bismaleimide cross-linkers was used to cross-link maleic-anhydride-grafted EPM irreversibly and furan-modified EPM thermoreversibly, respectively. Bismaleimide cross-linkers with a polarity close to that of EPM and a relatively low melting point have a better solubility in the rubber matrix, which results in higher chemical conversion and, thus, higher cross-link densities at the same molar amount of cross-linker. Samples cross-linked with different spacers (aromatic and aliphatic spacers of different lengths) were compared at the same cross-link density to interpret the effects on the material properties. The rigid character of the short aliphatic and the aromatic cross-linkers accounts for the observed increase in hardness, Young´s modulus and tensile strength with respect to the longer, more flexible aliphatic cross-linkers. In conclusion, the structure of the cross-linking agent can be considered as an alternative variable in tuning the rubber properties, especially for thermoreversibly cross-linked rubber.


2005 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Madani ◽  
M.M. Badawy

The influence of both beam irradiation and step cross-linking on high abrasion furnace (HAF) carbon black loaded natural rubber (NR) vulcanizates are reported. With irradiation, a higher cross-link density, ν, thermal conductivity, λ, and glass transition temperature, Tg, have been observed for such materials, as compared with the un-irradiated ones. There is also a decreased specific heat capacity, Cp. Meanwhile, the step cross-linking process has a slight effect on the cross-link density, glass transition temperature and thermal properties of these composites. The results of such changes in thermal conductivity are explained with the help of a simple modified model.


2015 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
He Wang ◽  
Ying Ding ◽  
Shugao Zhao ◽  
Claus Wrana

ABSTRACT The influence of the third monomer 5-ethylene-2-norbornene (ENB) and peroxide content on cure behavior and network structure of peroxide-cured EPDM were investigated by moving die rheometer, NMR relaxation, and dynamic mechanical thermal spectroscopy. According to the rubber elasticity theory, the torque measurement results showed the network structure of peroxide-cured EPDM contained chemical cross-links via combination reaction (Ccom), chemical cross-links via addition reaction (Cadd), and the contribution of entanglement density and network defects to the total cross-link density (CEN). The total cross-link density (Ctot) increased linearly with the peroxide content. The increase of ENB concentration was beneficial for the improvement of cross-linking efficiency of peroxide, but it made the diene conversion of EPDM decrease. CEN was dependent on the third monomer content, which also provided the dominant contribution to the Ctot at low peroxide contents. Furthermore, Ccom and Cadd were dependent on peroxide content linearly, and the latter also was governed by the ENB level.


2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 915-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Solan ◽  
Shannon L. M. Dahl ◽  
Laura E. Niklason

It has been shown that mechanical stimulation affects the physical properties of multiple types of engineered tissues. However, the optimum regimen for applying cyclic radial stretch to engineered arteries is not well understood. To this end, the effect of mechanical stretch on the development of engineered blood vessels was analyzed in constructs grown from porcine vascular smooth muscle cells. Cyclic radial distension was applied during vessel culture at three rates: 0 beats per minute (bpm), 90 bpm, and 165 bpm. At the end of the 7-week culture period, harvested vessels were analyzed with respect to physical characteristics. Importantly, mechanical stretch at 165 bpm resulted in a significant increase in rupture strength in engineered constructs over nonstretched controls. Stress–strain data and maximal elastic moduli from vessels grown at the three stretch rates indicate enhanced physical properties with increasing pulse rate. In order to investigate the role of collagen cross-linking in the improved mechanical characteristics, collagen cross-link density was quantified by HPLC. Vessels grown with mechanical stretch had somewhat more collagen and higher burst pressures than nonpulsed control vessels. Pulsation did not increase collagen cross-link density. Thus, increased wall thickness and somewhat elevated collagen concentrations, but not collagen cross-link density, appeared to be responsible for increased burst strength.


Author(s):  
Jacob Ishibashi ◽  
Ian Pierce ◽  
Alice Chang ◽  
Aristotelis Zografos ◽  
Yan Fang ◽  
...  

<p>The composition of low-T<sub>g</sub> <i>n</i>-butylacrylate-<i>block</i>-(acetoxyaceto)ethyl acrylate block polymers is investigated as a strategy to tune the properties of dynamically cross-linked vinylogous urethane vitrimers. As the proportion of the cross-linkable block is increased, the thermorheological properties, structure, and stress relaxation evolve in ways that cannot be explained by increasing cross-link density alone. Evidence is presented that network connectivity defects such as loops and dangling ends are increased by microphase separation. The thermomechanical and viscoelastic properties of block copolymer-derived vitrimers arise from the subtle interplay of microphase separation and network defects.</p><div><br></div><p></p>


2018 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 561-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
He Wang ◽  
Tao Zhuang ◽  
Xinyan Shi ◽  
Martin Van Duin ◽  
Shugao Zhao

ABSTRACT A series of compounds based on peroxide-cured ethylene–propylene–diene monomer rubber (EPDM) was prepared with varying amounts of paraffinic process oil, such as Sunpar 2280, squalane, and dodecane. The cross-linked network composition of EPDM vulcanizates, which correlated directly with the structure and the concentration of process oils, was successfully carried out by either an exponential or a linear fitting procedure. It was found that an increase in process oil concentration caused a decrease in total cross-link density, which could be quantitatively divided into the effect of dilution and chemical effect of oil, represented as a linear and an exponential function of process oil concentration, respectively. Experimental results indicated that whether dilution effect or chemical effect, the addition of Sunpar 2280 affected the decrease of cross-link densities of EPDM vulcanizates most obviously, followed by squalane, and then dodecane, which was the weakest. On the other hand, at lower squalane loading, the chemical effect of squalane dominated the decrease of cross-link density of peroxide-cured EPDMs compared with the dilution effect of oils. Gel permeation chromatography spectra confirmed squalane could consume the free radicals derived from peroxide, forming dimers and trimers, and the variation of squalane content did not affect the activation energy of the cross-linking reaction calculated based on the Kissinger method. The cross-linking efficiency of peroxide and physical entanglement density both linearly decreased with the increase of squalane content.


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