Blood-clotting mimetic behavior of biocompatible microgels

초록

Recent advances in hydrogel chemistry have led to the development of various soft materials capable of self-healing. Nevertheless, their self-healing capabilities are primitive compared to the responsive and adaptive strategies of blood clotting and wound healing in the human body. We developed a novel microgel system that mimics the process of blood clotting. Electrospun polylactic acid (PLA) fibers were entrapped inside the microgels of a hyaluronic acid conjugate with hesperidin side groups crosslinked by Fe ions; the resulting hydrogels showed fast self-healing and magnetic responsive properties. By applying an external magnetic field, which mimicked blood flow, the microgels successfully aggregated at target sites, like platelets. The aggregates were stable, as demonstrated by resistance to sonication for 30 min, and their moduli spanned tens to hundreds of kPa, demonstrating the mechanical integrity of the artificial clots. Like fibrin, the PLA fibers successfully strengthened the aggregates due to formation of uniform fiber-reinforced hydrogels; the artificial clots containing fibers had a 300% improved modulus and 50% increased hardness relative to the hydrogels without fibers. This unique intelligent system can be utilized in future self-healing systems, delivery systems, and devices with microfluidic channels. (C) 2018 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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