Fabrication and Manipulation of Ionotropic Hydrogels Crosslinked by Paramagnetic Ions.

ABSTRACT: This manuscript describes the fabrication and manipulation of millimeter-scale spheres fabricated from ionotropic hydrogels that are crosslinked with paramagnetic metal ions (e.g., Ho(3+)). These ionotropic hydrogels experience a force in a magnetic field gradient that correlates with the concentration of the paramagnetic cations crosslinking the polymer. In an externally applied magnetic field, the paramagnetic hydrogel spheres assemble into ordered arrays or confined geometrical structures in the regions of highest magnetic field. These spheres can be separated from heterogeneous mixtures of diamagnetic materials using a simple bar magnet. Two applications using these recoverable hydrogel spheres were demonstrated: i) When prepared with embedded indicator dyes bound to paper, the spheres

SUBMITTER: Winkleman A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2542877 | biostudies-literature | 2007

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature