Fabrication and characterization of a polyacrylamide hydrogel nanocomposite crosslinked with ZIF-8 at room temperature and investigation of the effect of these MOFs on enhancing the mechanical properties of the hydrogel
Subject Areas : journal of New MaterialsSedigheh Tatian 1 , Hamid Reza Mohammadian Semnani 2 * , Sedigheh Zeinali 3
1 - Nanomaterials Department, Faculty of Nanotechnology, Campus of New Sciences and Technologies, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.
2 - Department of Metal Forming, Faculty of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.
3 - Department of Nano Chemical Engineering, Faculty of New Technologies, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
Keywords: Hydrogels, Nanocomposites, Metal-Organic Frameworks, ZIF-8, Compressive Strength.,
Abstract :
Introduction: Hydrogels, as hydrophilic polymer networks have widespread applications in medical fields and engineering domains due to their biocompatibility and flexibility. However, their mechanical weaknesses have limited their use in load-bearing applications. In this study, ZIF-8 was used as a nanofiller in a polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogel matrix. The synthesis of ZIF-8 at room temperature was cost-effective and compatible with mild conditions.
Method: SEM, XRD and FTIR techniques and their underlying principles can be used to the study of MOF-hydrogel composites. Also, the mechanical properties of nanocomposite hydrogels are determined by analyzing the stress-strain curves.
Findings: SEM and XRD analyses confirmed that ZIF-8 was well-distributed within the polymer matrix without compromising its crystalline structure. Additionally, FTIR spectra revealed physical interactions between the nanoparticles and polymer chains. Mechanical tests demonstrated the addition of just 3 wt% ZIF-8 led to a 3000% increase in compressive strength compared to the pure hydrogel. Furthermore, samples containing less than 10 wt% ZIF-8 withstood compressive strains exceeding 90% without fracture, indicating a retention of flexibility alongside enhanced strength. This improvement is attributed to the reinforcing effect of the nanoparticles and the uniform stress distribution within the polymer network. The findings of this study prove that incorporating hydrogels with metal-organic frameworks like ZIF-8 can significantly mitigate their mechanical limitations.
1. Maghsoodnia A. Hydrogel-based Composites: A Review. Polymerization. 2016;6(4):94–102.
2. Hubbard AM, Cui W, Huang Y, Takahashi R, Dickey MD, Genzer J, et al. Hydrogel/Elastomer Laminates Bonded via Fabric Interphases for Stimuli-Responsive Actuators. Matter [Internet]. 2019;1(3):674–89. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2019.04.008
3. Li J, Illeperuma WRK, Suo Z, Vlassak JJ. Hybrid hydrogels with extremely high stiffness and toughness. ACS Macro Lett. 2014;3(6):520–3.
4. Fatemeh Karchoubi, Mahsa Baghban Salehi H, Pahlevani. A review on Nanocomposite Hydrogels: Rheology, Morphology, and Applications. Appl Res Chem - Polym Eng. 2019;3(3):3–38.
5. Toh JE, Lee CS, Lim WH, Pichika MR, Chua BW. Stimulus-responsive MOF–hydrogel composites: Classification, preparation, characterization, and their advancement in medical treatments. Open Chem. 2024;22(1).
6. Hubbard AM, Cui W, Huang Y, Takahashi R, Dickey MD, Genzer J, et al. Hydrogel/Elastomer Laminates Bonded via Fabric Interphases for Stimuli-Responsive Actuators. Matter. 2019;
7. Xing W, Tang Y. On mechanical properties of nanocomposite hydrogels: Searching for superior properties. Nano Mater Sci [Internet]. 2022;4(2):83–96. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoms.2021.07.004
8. Yang Z, Peng H, Wang W, Liu T. Crystallization behavior of poly(ε-caprolactone)/layered double hydroxide nanocomposites. J Appl Polym Sci. 2010;116(5):2658–67.
9. Liao M, Wan P, Wen J, Gong M, Wu X, Wang Y, et al. Wearable, Healable, and Adhesive Epidermal Sensors Assembled from Mussel-Inspired Conductive Hybrid Hydrogel Framework. Adv Funct Mater. 2017;27(48):1–11.
10. Liu M, Ishida Y, Ebina Y, Sasaki T, Hikima T, Takata M, et al. An anisotropic hydrogel with electrostatic repulsion between cofacially aligned nanosheets. Nature [Internet]. 2015;517(7532):68–72. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature14060
11. Peng Q, Chen J, Wang T, Peng X, Liu J, Wang X, et al. Recent advances in designing conductive hydrogels for flexible electronics. InfoMat. 2020;2(5):843–65.
12. Kaniewska K, Karbarz M, Katz E. Nanocomposite hydrogel films and coatings – Features and applications. Appl Mater Today [Internet]. 2020;20:100776. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmt.2020.100776
13. Rasoulzadeh M, Namazi H. Carboxymethyl cellulose/graphene oxide bio-nanocomposite hydrogel beads as anticancer drug carrier agent. Carbohydr Polym [Internet]. 2017;168:320–6. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.03.014
14. Mahmoud NN, Hikmat S, Abu Ghith D, Hajeer M, Hamadneh L, Qattan D, et al. Gold nanoparticles loaded into polymeric hydrogel for wound healing in rats: Effect of nanoparticles’ shape and surface modification. Int J Pharm [Internet]. 2019;565(May):174–86. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.04.079
15. Yegappan R, Selvaprithiviraj V, Amirthalingam S, Mohandas A, Hwang NS, Jayakumar R. Injectable angiogenic and osteogenic carrageenan nanocomposite hydrogel for bone tissue engineering. Int J Biol Macromol [Internet]. 2019;122:320–8. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.10.182
16. Wahid F, Zhong C, Wang H-S, Hu X-H, Chu L-Q. Recent advances in antimicrobial hydrogels containing metal ions and metals/metal oxide nanoparticles. Polymers (Basel). 2017;9(12):636.
17. Wang H, Zhao Z, Liu Y, Shao C, Bian F, Zhao Y. Biomimetic enzyme cascade reaction system in microfluidic electrospray microcapsules. Sci Adv. 2018;4(6).
18. Liu H, Peng H, Xin Y, Zhang J. Metal-organic frameworks: A universal strategy towards super-elastic hydrogels. Polym Chem. 2019;10(18):2263–72.
19. Xu J, Wu C, Qiu Y, Tang X, Zeng D. Novel Elastically Stretchable Metal–Organic Framework Laden Hydrogel with Pearl–Net Microstructure and Freezing Resistance through Post-Synthetic Polymerization. Macromol Rapid Commun. 2020;41(6):1–9.
20. Wang TL, Zhou ZF, Liu JF, Hou XD, Zhou Z, Dai YL, et al. Donut-like MOFs of copper/nicotinic acid and composite hydrogels with superior bioactivity for rh-bFGF delivering and skin wound healing. J Nanobiotechnology [Internet]. 2021;19(1):1–21. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-021-01014-z
21. Bigham A, Islami N, Khosravi A, Zarepour A, Iravani S, Zarrabi A. MOFs and MOF-Based Composites as Next-Generation Materials for Wound Healing and Dressings. Small. 2024;20(30):1–35.
22. Ding M, Cai X, Jiang HL. Improving MOF stability: Approaches and applications. Chem Sci. 2019;10(44):10209–30.
23. Rahman S, Toyabur M, Hitendra R, Kim K, Kim S. ZIF ‑ 8 ‑ enhanced multifunctional , high ‑ performance nanocomposite hydrogel – based wearable strain sensor for healthcare applications. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater [Internet]. 2024;3:1–15. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-024-00987-3
24. He M, Yao J, Liu Q, Wang K, Chen F, Wang H. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials Facile synthesis of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 from a concentrated aqueous solution. Microporous Mesoporous Mater [Internet]. 2014;184:55–60. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2013.10.003
25. Wang Q, Zhang Y, Ma Y, Wang M, Pan G. Nano-crosslinked dynamic hydrogels for biomedical applications. Mater Today Bio [Internet]. 2023;20(March):100640. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100640
26. Zaragoza J, Fukuoka S, Kraus M, Thomin J, Asuri P. Exploring the role of nanoparticles in enhancing mechanical properties of hydrogel nanocomposites. Nanomaterials. 2018;8(11):1–10.
27. Maan O, Song P, Chen N, Lu Q. An In Situ Procedure for the Preparation of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 Polyacrylamide Hydrogel for Adsorption of Aqueous Pollutants. 2019;1801895:1–9.
28. Hsieh CT, Ariga K, Shrestha LK, Hsu SH. Development of MOF Reinforcement for Structural Stability and Toughness Enhancement of Biodegradable Bioinks. Biomacromolecules. 2021;22(3):1053–64.