Publication in the Journal of Polymer Science: Hybrid Thermoresponsive Hydrogels

The article “Hybrid CNCs/PNIPAAm Thermoresponsive Hydrogels Showing Enhanced Mechanical Strength and Biocompatibility” has been published in the Journal of Polymer Science. Conducted by Dr. Bhaskarchand Gautam under the supervision of Prof. Catarina Esteves, this research presents a systematic study on improving the mechanical performance of thermoresponsive hydrogels, materials with broad potential in tissue engineering, biomedical devices, and advanced adhesive technologies.

The study demonstrates that introducing less than 1 wt% of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) into PNIPAAm-based hydrogels results in a 20-fold increase in mechanical strength, while maintaining thermoresponsive functionality and exhibiting high biocompatibility with human cells. These findings expand the understanding of hybrid hydrogel systems and highlight their potential in applications such as bionic muscle development, functional coatings, and regenerative medicine.

Below an interview with Dr. Gautam, first author of the publication.

Could you briefly explain what your article is about and its key findings?

 <<The weak mechanical properties of hydrogels often cause them to break during their use which restricts their applications. In this study, we developed a smart hybrid PNIPAAm hydrogel that exhibits a mechanical strength 20 times higher just by incorporating less than 1 wt% of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The hybrid hydrogel also demonstrates a noticeable shrinkage of about 10–12% when it’s exposed to thermal stimuli. Furthermore, it preserves its thermoresponsive behavior even when applied as a coating on solid substrates. In addition, the hydrogel exhibits excellent cell biocompatibility, which opens the possibility of this material for several biomedical applications>>

Could you explain in simple terms what an “intelligent hydrogel” is and why it might be interesting even for readers without a technical background?

<<The smart (intelligent) materials are those that can change one or more of their properties in response to external stimuli such as pressure, temperature, light, and electric field. In our case, the hybrid hydrogel is made of PNIPAAm, which is a thermoresponsive polymer material. Therefore, our hydrogel shows a significant and reversible change in size when the temperature stimulus is applied>>

There are many potential applications for this material. What are the next steps or directions you would like to explore with this research?

<<In the future, these hydrogels incorporating the cellulose nanocrystals will be explored as coatings on model substrates such as glass, metals, and ceramics. Their potential for biomedical applications will also be evaluated after coating>>

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Read the publication here

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