Research

Engineering Sciences

Title :

Rheology of Hydrogel using nanobubbles

Area of research :

Engineering Sciences

Principal Investigator :

Dr. Kalyani Agarwal, Indian Institute Of Technology Kanpur (IITK), Uttar Pradesh

Timeline Start Year :

2024

Timeline End Year :

2026

Contact info :

Details

Executive Summary :

Hydrogels, a type of network polymer, have gained significant interest in both scientific and industrial circles due to their unique characteristics. Nanobubbles (NBs) are ultrafine bubbles with a diameter range of 100-200 nm, which can be generated using various solvents. The shell composition significantly impacts the nanobubbles' capacity to be taken up by cells and trigger specific responses. The proposal aims to synthesize nanobubbles embedded in hydrogels with excellent oxygen-holding capacity for chronic injury treatment. The constituents can be altered to create shells with different viscoelastic characteristics and monitored in an acoustic field. The rheological properties of oxygen-embedded hydrogels are also being studied. Carbopol-based oxygen nanobubble-embedded hydrogel (ONB-G) has been developed for wound healing treatment, using high-molecular-weight polymer Carbopol to improve gelling capabilities and minimize oxygen loss during hydrogel formation. Hydrogels subjected to slight deformation rheology investigations are used to quantify mechanical characteristics. The goal is to construct a hydrogel containing nanobubbles for tissue engineering scaffolds and wound dressings. The characteristics of hydrogels have evolved over time and are beneficial in various areas. The rheological characterization of injectable hydrogels is crucial for creating translational solutions.

Organizations involved