2024 AIChE Annual Meeting
(489g) Programmable Cargo Release from Jet-Printed Microgel Particles Via an in Situ Ionic Exchange Method
Hydrogel-based delivery systems have shown promise in clinical settings. They offer precise spatial and temporal regulation of the release of various therapeutic agents, ranging from small molecules and macromolecules to cells. However, achieving programmable release of substances with varying molecular weights at distinct rates remains a challenge. In this study, we develop a scalable method to produce alginate hydrogel particles with finely tuned microstructures capable of controlled cargo release. Our method combines an established jetting technique with a post-synthesis ion-exchange process to finetune the cross-linked alginate microstructure. By varying the type and concentration of ions used, the resulted chemical and physical characteristics of the hydrogel particles can be systematically adjusted, including their swelling behavior and crosslinking density. These modifications enable the alginate hydrogel particles to release multiple model compounds at varying rates. Our findings offer a new strategy for post-synthetic manipulation of the structure and properties of hydrogel microparticles, with many opportunities for biomedical and environmental applications.