Understanding the metal free alginate gelation process
Ornella Ursini, Roberta Angelini, Silvia Franco, Barbara Cortese
Abstract
'', moduli differ significantly by shifting the glutamine zwitterionic equilibrium. Protonated amino acid could induce a shielding effect of the electrostatic repulsion of the alginate chains. Stable gels are obtained in the presence of a larger amount of free organic acid that gives rise to chain crosslink junctions and chain-chain stabilization. This opens up the possibility of preparing metal-free alginate hydrogels based on amino acid equilibria being pH sensitive.
Topics & Concepts
Self-healing hydrogelsChemistryProtonationBiocompatibilityChemical engineeringPolymer chemistryMetalIonic bondingDivalentRheologyGlutamineViscoelasticityAmino acidMaterials scienceOrganic chemistryIonBiochemistryComposite materialEngineeringHydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications3D Printing in Biomedical ResearchPancreatic function and diabetes