Advancements in Thermoresponsive Hydrogels: Insights into Swelling Behavior and Applications in Biofunctional Microstructures

Fecha: Viernes 14 de Junio de 2024.
Hora: 10:30 h.
Lugar: Aula A23 de la Facultad de Ciencias.
Ponente: Dr. Yevhenii Morozov (AIT-Austrian Institute of Technology, Vienna, Austria).

Resumen:
In this seminar, we will discuss our recent advancements in thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM)-based hydrogels, highlighting two innovative studies. First, we present a novel method for fabricating thermoresponsive biofunctional hydrogel micro- and nanostructures using maskless multiphoton lithography. This approach, which combines photocrosslinking and attachment of pre-synthesized polymer chains, allows for precise control over polymer network characteristics and enables postmodification with biomolecules. We demonstrate the method's efficacy through comprehensive characterization, revealing tailored 3D micro- and nanostructures with potential applications in bioanalytical and biomedical technologies.

The second part of the talk focuses on the dynamic swelling and collapsing behaviors of pNIPAM networks, which are crucial for designing responsive materials. By attaching thin hydrogel films to gold nanoparticle arrays and using localized surface plasmon resonance for rapid heating, we investigate the kinetics of these transitions. Our findings show rapid response times and multiple phases driven by water diffusion and polymer chain rearrangement, providing valuable insights into the physical properties of network swelling and collapsing, as well as for creating miniature actuators and micromachines.

Join us to discuss these recent advances and their implications for the future of functional materials and responsive hydrogel applications.