Compositional and structural patterns play a crucial role in the function of many biological tissues. In the present work, for nanofibrillar hydrogels formed by chemically cross-linked cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and gelatin, we report a microextrusion-based 3D printing method to generate structurally anisotropic hydrogel sheets with CNCs aligned in the direction of extrusion. We prepared hydrogels with a uniform composition, as well as hydrogels with two different types of compositional gradients. In the first type of gradient hydrogel, the composition of the sheet varied parallel to the direction of CNC alignment. In the second hydrogel type, the composition of the sheet changed orthogonally to the direction of CNC alignment. The hydrogels exhibited gradients in structure, mechanical properties, and permeability, all governed by the compositional patterns, as well as cytocompatibility. These hydrogels have promising applications for both fundamental research and for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.8b00100 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
The BeP monolayer exhibits ultra-high and highly anisotropic carrier mobility and 29.3% photovoltaic efficiency.
Nanoscale
January 2025
Laboratory of Quantum Functional Materials Design and Application, School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, China.
Two-dimensional materials with a combination of a moderate bandgap, highly anisotropic carrier mobility, and a planar structure are highly desirable for nanoelectronic devices. This study predicts a planar BeP monolayer with hexagonal symmetry that meets the aforementioned desirable criteria using the CALYPSO method and first-principles calculations. Calculations of electronic properties demonstrate that the hexagonal BeP monolayer is an intrinsic semiconductor with a direct band gap of approximately 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNovel Self-Powered Sensitive X-Ray Detection Crystal BiMoWO with Effective Functional Motif Coupling in a Quasi-2D Perovskite Structure.
Small
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, 27th South Shanda Road, Jinan, 250100, China.
The demand for medical imaging with reduced patient dosage and higher resolution is growing, driving the need for advanced X-ray detection technologies. This paper proposes a design paradigm for X-ray detection semiconductors by coupling constituent motifs through crystal structure engineering. The study introduces a strongly anisotropic Aurivillius-type quasi-2D perovskite structure, combining [BiO] groups with stereochemically active lone pair electrons (SCALPEs) and [W/MoO] anionic groups, enabling enhanced X-ray Compton scattering and self-powered capabilities through local electric field ordering.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLow-threshold anisotropic polychromatic emission from monodisperse quantum dots.
Natl Sci Rev
February 2025
Institute of Nanoscience and Applications, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) are solution-processable semiconductor nanocrystals with favorable optoelectronic characteristics, one of which is their multi-excitonic behavior that enables broadband polychromatic light generation and amplification from monodisperse QDs. However, the practicality of this has been limited by the difficulty in achieving spatial separation and patterning of different colors as well as the high pumping intensity required to excite the multi-excitonic states. Here, we have addressed these issues by integrating monodisperse QDs in multi-excitonic states into a specially designed cavity, in which the QDs exhibit an anisotropic polychromatic emission (APE) characteristic that allows for tuning the emission from green to red by shifting the observation direction from perpendicular to lateral.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHow cells align to structured collagen fibrils: a hybrid cellular Potts and molecular dynamics model with dynamic mechanosensitive focal adhesions.
Front Cell Dev Biol
January 2025
Mathematical Institute, Faculty of Science, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.
Many mammalian cells, including endothelial cells and fibroblasts, align and elongate along the orientation of extracellular matrix (ECM) fibers in a gel when cultured . During cell elongation, clusters of focal adhesions (FAs) form near the poles of the elongating cells. FAs are mechanosensitive clusters of adhesions that grow under mechanical tension exerted by the cells' pulling on the ECM and shrink when the tension is released.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBioinspired hydrophobic pseudo-hydrogel for programmable shape-morphing.
Nat Commun
January 2025
Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.
Inspired by counterintuitive water "swelling" ability of the hydrophobic moss of the genus Sphagnum (Peat moss), we prepared a hydrophobic pseudo-hydrogel (HPH), composed of a pure hydrophobic silicone elastomer with a tailored porous structure. In contrast to conventional hydrogels, HPH achieves absorption-induced volume expansion through surface tension induced elastocapillarity, presenting an unexpected absorption-induced volume expansion capability in hydrophobic matrices. We adopt a theoretical framework elucidating the interplay of surface tension induced elastocapillarity, providing insights into the absorption-induced volume expansion behavior.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!