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Porous hierarchically ordered hydrogels demonstrating structurally dependent mechanical properties

Author

Listed:
  • Elisabeth C. Lloyd

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • Sujata Dhakal

    (Case Western Reserve University)

  • Shahrouz Amini

    (Research Campus Golm)

  • Rami Alhasan

    (Brigham Young University)

  • Peter Fratzl

    (Research Campus Golm)

  • Douglas R. Tree

    (Brigham Young University)

  • Svetlana Morozova

    (Case Western Reserve University)

  • Robert J. Hickey

    (The Pennsylvania State University
    The Pennsylvania State University)

Abstract

While hierarchical ordering is a distinctive feature of natural tissues and is directly responsible for their diverse and unique properties, efforts to synthesize biomaterials have primarily focused on using molecular-based approaches with little emphasis on multiscale structure. Here, we report a bottom-up self-assembly process to produce highly porous hydrogel fibers that resemble extracellular matrices both structurally and mechanically. Physically crosslinked nanostructured micelles form the walls of micrometer-sized water-rich pores with preferred orientation along the fiber direction. Low elastic moduli (

Suggested Citation

  • Elisabeth C. Lloyd & Sujata Dhakal & Shahrouz Amini & Rami Alhasan & Peter Fratzl & Douglas R. Tree & Svetlana Morozova & Robert J. Hickey, 2025. "Porous hierarchically ordered hydrogels demonstrating structurally dependent mechanical properties," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59171-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59171-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vivian R. Feig & Helen Tran & Minah Lee & Zhenan Bao, 2018. "Mechanically tunable conductive interpenetrating network hydrogels that mimic the elastic moduli of biological tissue," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Pengcheng Jiao & Jochen Mueller & Jordan R. Raney & Xiaoyu (Rayne) Zheng & Amir H. Alavi, 2023. "Mechanical metamaterials and beyond," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Vivian R. Feig & Helen Tran & Minah Lee & Zhenan Bao, 2018. "Author Correction: Mechanically tunable conductive interpenetrating network hydrogels that mimic the elastic moduli of biological tissue," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-1, December.
    4. Kuen Yong Lee & Martin C. Peters & Kenneth W. Anderson & David J. Mooney, 2000. "Controlled growth factor release from synthetic extracellular matrices," Nature, Nature, vol. 408(6815), pages 998-1000, December.
    5. Chao Lang & Jacob A. LaNasa & Nyalaliska Utomo & Yifan Xu & Melissa J. Nelson & Woochul Song & Michael A. Hickner & Ralph H. Colby & Manish Kumar & Robert J. Hickey, 2019. "Solvent-non-solvent rapid-injection for preparing nanostructured materials from micelles to hydrogels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
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