Disaggregation and fibrillation during sol-gel transition of alginate hydrogels.
Int J Biol Macromol
; 269(Pt 2): 131890, 2024 Jun.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38692534
ABSTRACT
The rheological and morphological characteristics of Ca-crosslinked alginate hydrogels with two different M/G ratios, α-L-guluronate (G)-rich and ß-D-mannuronate (M)-rich, each with one alginic acid concentration, were investigated. It was found that the stiffness and elasticity of alginate hydrogels are derived from the thickness and density of the fibril network structures. In aqueous alginate solution, ball-like aggregates of alginates are present. Time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering and time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance measurements suggest that the disaggregation of alginate aggregates and loose fibrillation occur in the early stage of the sol-gel transition. After these induction stage, direct gelation is finally caused by the formation of the egg-box junction. G-rich alginate hydrogel has a higher stiffness and a thicker and denser fibril network structure than M-rich alginate hydrogel. The former also exhibits faster and more significant changes in physical properties during the sol-gel transition.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Rheology
/
Hydrogels
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Phase Transition
/
Alginates
Language:
En
Journal:
Int J Biol Macromol
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article