Phospholipid polymer hydrogels with rapid dissociation for reversible cell immobilization

Reversible and cytocompatible cell immobilization polymer matrix with rapid dissociation rate was prepared by using with a zwitterionic phospholipid polymer bearing phenylboronic acid and poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA). A reversible and spontaneously...

Assessment of the performance of nonfouling polymer hydrogels utilizing citizen scientists

To facilitate longer duration space travel, flight crew sickness and disease transmission amongst the crew must be eliminated. High contact surfaces within space vehicles provide an opportunity for bacterial adhesion, which can lead to biofilm formation or disease transmission. This study evaluates the performance of several nonfouling polymers using citizen science, to identify the best performing chemistry for future applications as bacteria resistant coatings. The specific polymer chemistries tested were zwitterionic sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA), and polyampholytes composed of [2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride and 2-carboxyethyl acrylate (TMA/CAA), or TMA and 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate (TMA/SA). Each polymer chemistry is known to exhibit bacteria resistance, and this study provides a direct side-by-side comparison between the chemistries using a citizen science approach. Nearly 100 citizen scientists returned results comparing the performance of these polymers over repeat exposure to bacteria and 30 total days of growth. The results demonstrate that TMA/CAA polyampholyte hydrogels show the best long-term resistance to bacteria adhesion.

FEATURES OF OBTAINING GELS BASED ON AGAR-AGAR FOR COSMETOLOGY AND MEDICINE WITH ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES

In the modern world, special attention is paid to materials with controlled characteristics. In this aspect, polymers and materials based on them have a number of specific properties for effective use in medicine and cosmetology. Humic substances satisfy most of these features, so their use is very important. The study of the features of the processes of gelation in polymer systems such as agar-agar, which has rather universal properties, makes it possible to use it as a basis for gels and polymer carriers, as well as in the processes of obtaining medical and cosmetic materials with different properties, which can be important in solving a number of topical issues. In particular, these are lightweight and cheap to manufacture antiseptic gels, dressings on wounds with absorption and protective properties, all kinds of cosmetics. In the article, a study was carried out to study the processes of gelation and the features of the rheological properties of hydrogels based on agar-agar in order to obtain modern hydrogels with an antibacterial effect. It was found that the introduction of humic acids into the composition of polymer hydrogels slows down the processes of structure formation, which leads to a decrease in the viscosity of all the studied compositions. Also, a decrease in the melting temperature of hydrogel jellies with an increase in the content of humic acids in them indicates a reduced level of gelation, which also leads to an increase in the time of loss of stickiness of polymer hydrogels. It has been shown that humic acids in polymer hydrogels have high antibacterial activity and almost completely stop the processes of mold formation in them. It was found that the most effective from the point of view of obtaining hydrogels with an antibacterial effect are agar-agar compositions with a humic acid content of 15 %. Thus, cosmetic polymer hydrogels with an antibacterial effect have been developed, which can be used in the treatment of hands, face and other areas of the skin that are open and contact for humans to combat coronavirus bacteria.