Facile Formation of Multifunctional Biomimetic Hydrogel Fibers for Sensing Applications

To face the challenges in preparing hydrogel fibers with complex structures and functions, this study utilized a microfluidic coaxial co-extrusion technique to successfully form functional hydrogel fibers through rapid ionic crosslinking. Functional hydrogel fibers with complex structures, including...

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Main Authors: Mengwei Jia, Mingle Guan, Ryan Yao, Yuan Qing, Xiaoya Hou, Jie Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Gels
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/9/590
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author Mengwei Jia
Mingle Guan
Ryan Yao
Yuan Qing
Xiaoya Hou
Jie Zhang
author_facet Mengwei Jia
Mingle Guan
Ryan Yao
Yuan Qing
Xiaoya Hou
Jie Zhang
author_sort Mengwei Jia
collection DOAJ
description To face the challenges in preparing hydrogel fibers with complex structures and functions, this study utilized a microfluidic coaxial co-extrusion technique to successfully form functional hydrogel fibers through rapid ionic crosslinking. Functional hydrogel fibers with complex structures, including linear fibers, core–shell structure fibers, embedded helical channels, hollow tubes, and necklaces, were generated by adjusting the composition of internal and external phases. The characteristic parameters of the hydrogel fibers (inner and outer diameter, helix generation position, pitch, etc.) were achieved by adjusting the flow rate of the internal and external phases. As biocompatible materials, hydrogel fibers were endowed with electrical conductivity, temperature sensitivity, mechanical enhancement, and freeze resistance, allowing for their use as temperature sensors for human respiratory monitoring and other biomimetic application developments. The hydrogel fibers had a conductivity of up to 22.71 S/m, a response time to respiration of 37 ms, a recovery time of 1.956 s, and could improve the strength of respiration; the tensile strength at break up to 8.081 MPa, elongation at break up to 159%, and temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) up to −13.080% °C<sup>−1</sup> were better than the existing related research.
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series Gels
spelling doaj-art-1fdb5db8d9094859b40d99f21ff1ba492025-08-20T01:55:31ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612024-09-0110959010.3390/gels10090590Facile Formation of Multifunctional Biomimetic Hydrogel Fibers for Sensing ApplicationsMengwei Jia0Mingle Guan1Ryan Yao2Yuan Qing3Xiaoya Hou4Jie Zhang5School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, ChinaCollege of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USASchool of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, ChinaTo face the challenges in preparing hydrogel fibers with complex structures and functions, this study utilized a microfluidic coaxial co-extrusion technique to successfully form functional hydrogel fibers through rapid ionic crosslinking. Functional hydrogel fibers with complex structures, including linear fibers, core–shell structure fibers, embedded helical channels, hollow tubes, and necklaces, were generated by adjusting the composition of internal and external phases. The characteristic parameters of the hydrogel fibers (inner and outer diameter, helix generation position, pitch, etc.) were achieved by adjusting the flow rate of the internal and external phases. As biocompatible materials, hydrogel fibers were endowed with electrical conductivity, temperature sensitivity, mechanical enhancement, and freeze resistance, allowing for their use as temperature sensors for human respiratory monitoring and other biomimetic application developments. The hydrogel fibers had a conductivity of up to 22.71 S/m, a response time to respiration of 37 ms, a recovery time of 1.956 s, and could improve the strength of respiration; the tensile strength at break up to 8.081 MPa, elongation at break up to 159%, and temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) up to −13.080% °C<sup>−1</sup> were better than the existing related research.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/9/590microfluidcoaxial co-extrusioncomplex structuremultiple functionsbiomimetic hydrogel fibers
spellingShingle Mengwei Jia
Mingle Guan
Ryan Yao
Yuan Qing
Xiaoya Hou
Jie Zhang
Facile Formation of Multifunctional Biomimetic Hydrogel Fibers for Sensing Applications
Gels
microfluid
coaxial co-extrusion
complex structure
multiple functions
biomimetic hydrogel fibers
title Facile Formation of Multifunctional Biomimetic Hydrogel Fibers for Sensing Applications
title_full Facile Formation of Multifunctional Biomimetic Hydrogel Fibers for Sensing Applications
title_fullStr Facile Formation of Multifunctional Biomimetic Hydrogel Fibers for Sensing Applications
title_full_unstemmed Facile Formation of Multifunctional Biomimetic Hydrogel Fibers for Sensing Applications
title_short Facile Formation of Multifunctional Biomimetic Hydrogel Fibers for Sensing Applications
title_sort facile formation of multifunctional biomimetic hydrogel fibers for sensing applications
topic microfluid
coaxial co-extrusion
complex structure
multiple functions
biomimetic hydrogel fibers
url https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/9/590
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AT mingleguan facileformationofmultifunctionalbiomimetichydrogelfibersforsensingapplications
AT ryanyao facileformationofmultifunctionalbiomimetichydrogelfibersforsensingapplications
AT yuanqing facileformationofmultifunctionalbiomimetichydrogelfibersforsensingapplications
AT xiaoyahou facileformationofmultifunctionalbiomimetichydrogelfibersforsensingapplications
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