Acoustic droplet vaporization for on-demand modulation of microporosity in smart hydrogels.

ABSTRACT: Microporosity in hydrogels is critical for directing tissue formation and function. We have developed a fibrin-based smart hydrogel, termed an acoustically responsive scaffold (ARS), which responds to focused ultrasound in a spatiotemporally controlled, user-defined manner. ARSs are highly flexible platforms due to the inclusion of phase-shift droplets and their tunable response to ultrasound through a mechanism termed acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV). Here, we demonstrated that ADV enabled consistent generation of micropores in ARSs, throughout the entire thickness (∼5.5 mm), utilizing perfluorooctane phase-shift droplets. Size characteristics of the generated micropores were quantified in response to critical parameters including acoustic properties, droplet size, and shear elastic mo

SUBMITTER: Aliabouzar M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10538466 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature