Abstract

Hydrogels are versatile materials with a wide range of applications, including in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and water purification. The properties of hydrogels, such as their swelling ratio, mechanical strength, and biodegradability, can be tuned by varying the cross-linking density of the polymer network. Traditional cross-linking methods often involve the use of toxic chemicals or harsh conditions, which can limit the biocompatibility and scalability of hydrogel production.

Here, we present a novel approach for cross-linking hydrogels using carbonated water. Carbonated water contains dissolved carbon dioxide gas, which can react with the functional groups of polymers to form covalent bonds. This reaction leads to the formation of a cross-linked polymer network, resulting in a hydrogel.

We investigated the effect of carbonated water on the properties of hydrogels prepared from various polymers, including poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), and gelatin. We found that the swelling ratio, mechanical strength, and biodegradability of the hydrogels could be effectively tuned by varying the concentration of carbonated water.

Furthermore, we demonstrated the potential applications of carbonated water-crosslinked hydrogels in tissue engineering and drug delivery. We showed that these hydrogels could support the growth and differentiation of stem cells, and they could be used to deliver drugs in a controlled manner.

In summary, our study demonstrates the potential of carbonated water as a novel cross-linking agent for tuning the properties of hydrogels for various applications. This approach offers a simple, biocompatible, and scalable method for hydrogel production, which could lead to new advances in the field of hydrogel-based technologies.