Mechanical Properties of Alginate Hydrogels Cross-Linked with Multivalent Cations

Ionically, cross-linked alginate gels have a potential to be used in a wide range of biomedical, environmental and catalytic applications. The study deals with preparation of alginate hydrogels cross-linked with various cations and the analysis of their equilibrium swelling and mechanical properties. It is shown that the type of cations used in the cross-linking process affects the elastic moduli and the equilibrium degree of swelling of the gels. The experimental data in small-amplitude oscillatory tests are fitted with a model that involves two material parameters: the elastic modulus of a polymer network and a measure of its inhomogeneity. The influence of cations on these quantities is studied numerically. It is revealed that the dependence of the elastic modulus of ionically cross-linked alginate gels on their equilibrium degree of swelling differs from that predicted by the conventional theory for covalently cross-linked gels.

Automated summary

This study investigates the preparation of cross-linked alginate hydrogels using various cations and analyzes their equilibrium swelling and mechanical properties. The results show that the type of cations used in the cross-linking process affects the elastic moduli and equilibrium degree of swelling. Experimental data is fitted with a model that involves two material parameters, and numerical analysis reveals the influence of cations on these quantities. The study also finds that the relationship between the elastic modulus and equilibrium swelling differs from that predicted by conventional theory for covalently cross-linked gels.