Device and method for changing agar hydrogel microstructure through one-way freezing method

Abstract

The invention provides a device and method for changing an agar hydrogel microstructure through a one-way freezing method. The device comprises a glass tube with a radial heat insulation layer, and hydrogel is arranged in the center of the glass tube; the upper and lower ends of the glass tube are respectively connected with copper plates, the upper and lower copper plates are connected through a constant-temperature circulating device, and the constant-temperature circulating device forms a temperature difference between the upper and lower copper plates. The hydrogel is put into the glass tube with the radial glass tube heat insulation function, so that the glass tube has an axial temperature gradient, the hydrogel starts to freeze close to the low-temperature side, axial apertures are generated in the hydrogel along with growth of ice crystals, and the hydrogel has high directionality and can improve the flow rate of liquid and accelerate the medicine transportation efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of hydrogel preparation technology, specifically to a device and method for altering the microstructure of agar hydrogels via a one-way freezing method. Background Technology

[0002] Hydrogels are a type of highly hydrophilic three-dimensional network structure gel that swells rapidly in water and retains a large volume of water without dissolving in this swollen state. Due to the presence of a cross-linked network, hydrogels can swell and retain large amounts of water; the amount of water absorbed is closely related to the degree of cross-linking. The higher the degree of cross-linking, the lower the water absorption. This property is very similar to that of soft tissue. The water content in hydrogels can be as low as a few percent or as high as 99%. The aggregated state of a hydrogel is neither completely solid nor completely liquid. Solid behavior means maintaining a certain shape and volume under certain conditions, while liquid behavior means that solutes can diffuse or permeate through the hydrogel.

[0003] In the transportation of certain drugs, hydrogels with a certain porosity are required. Existing hydrogels have relatively fixed porosity and are not directional, resulting in a low flow rate of drugs within them. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the problems of the prior art, this invention provides a device and method for altering the microstructure of agar hydrogels through a unidirectional freezing method. By preparing hydrogel samples with a certain porosity, which exhibit high directionality, the fluidity of the liquid can be improved, thereby accelerating drug delivery efficiency.

[0005] This invention provides a device for altering the microstructure of agar hydrogel by a one-way freezing method, comprising a glass tube with a radial heat insulation layer, wherein hydrogel is disposed in the center of the glass tube; copper plates are respectively connected to the upper and lower ends of the glass tube, and the upper and lower copper plates are connected by a constant temperature circulation device, which creates a temperature difference between the upper and lower copper plates.

[0006] The heat insulation layer is an aerogel layer, and the glass tube has two chambers, an outer chamber filled with aerogel and an inner chamber filled with hydrogel.

[0007] The constant temperature circulation device includes a heat preservation pipe and a constant temperature circulator. The copper plate has a cavity. The cavities of the upper and lower copper plates and the heat preservation pipe form a circulating liquid loop. The constant temperature circulator continuously delivers constant temperature liquid into the cavity of one copper plate.

[0008] In a further improvement, the hydrogel is formed by mixing agar powder with a liquid. The liquid within the hydrogel is water or cell culture medium, or the liquid within the hydrogel contains one or more combinations of cells, DNA, RNA, and proteins.

[0009] Further improvements were made, with the output liquid temperature of the thermostatic circulator ranging from -40°C to 40°C.

[0010] In a further improvement, the diameter of the glass tube is 10mm to 50mm, and the angle between the capillary and the horizontal direction is 90°.

[0011] The present invention also provides a method for changing the microstructure of agar hydrogel by unidirectional freezing. The hydrogel is placed in a glass tube with radial glass tube insulation, so that the glass tube has an axial temperature gradient. The hydrogel begins to freeze near the low temperature side. As ice crystals grow, axial pores are generated inside, the axial modulus decreases, and the fluidity of the liquid is enhanced.

[0012] The device described above for altering the microstructure of agar hydrogel using a one-way freezing method specifically includes the following steps: 1) Mix agar powder with liquid to form a hydrogel and place it in a glass tube; 2) Set the output liquid temperature of the thermostatic circulator to -40℃; 3) As the temperature decreases, the hydrogel begins to freeze. With the growth of ice crystals, axial pores are formed inside, the axial modulus decreases, and the liquid's fluidity increases. ; Among them, E zeff It is the axial modulus after freezing, G m It is the shear modulus of the hydrogel before freezing. The porosity is the value of the hydrogel.

[0013] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: by preparing a hydrogel sample with a certain porosity, a unidirectional freeze-thaw cycle is achieved under a multi-layer thermal insulation design. Under the unidirectional growth of the ice layer, the internal pore distribution of the hydrogel is changed, giving it a high degree of directionality, which can improve the fluidity of the liquid and accelerate the drug delivery efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0014] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal pores of the hydrogel before treatment.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal pores of the treated hydrogel.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the pores of the treated hydrogel parallel to the pore direction.

[0019] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the pores of the treated hydrogel perpendicular to the pore direction.

[0020] Figure 6 for Figure 4 Orientation analysis in. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] This invention provides a device for altering the microstructure of agar hydrogels via a one-way freezing method, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the device includes a glass tube thermostatic circulator 2 with a radial heat insulation layer, and a hydrogel is disposed in the center of the glass tube thermostatic circulator 2. The upper and lower ends of the glass tube thermostatic circulator 2 are respectively connected to copper plate thermostatic circulators 4, and the upper and lower copper plate thermostatic circulators 4 are connected by a thermostatic circulation device, which creates a temperature difference between the upper and lower copper plate thermostatic circulators 4.

[0023] The heat insulation layer is an aerogel layer, and the glass tube has two chambers, an outer chamber filled with an aerogel thermostatic circulator 6, and an inner chamber filled with hydrogel.

[0024] The constant temperature circulation device includes a constant temperature circulator 7 with an insulated pipe and a constant temperature circulator 1. The constant temperature circulator 4 with a copper plate has a cavity. The cavities of the upper and lower copper plate constant temperature circulators 4 and the constant temperature circulator 7 with the insulated pipe constant temperature circulator form a circulating liquid circuit. The constant temperature circulator 1 continuously delivers constant temperature liquid to the cavity of the copper plate constant temperature circulator 4.

[0025] The functions of each component in the diagram are as follows: Thermostatic circulator 1: used to provide cryogenic liquid; Glass tube 2: used to fix hydrogel and aerogel; Aerogel 6: used to insulate radial heat conduction; Copper plate 4: used to provide axial heat; First insulation tube 3, second insulation tube, and insulation tube 7: used to reduce heat loss during liquid flow; Agar powder 5: used to manufacture hydrogels with different porosities.

[0026] In a further improvement, the hydrogel is formed by mixing agar powder 5 with a liquid. The liquid within the hydrogel is water or cell culture medium, or the liquid within the hydrogel contains one or more combinations of cells, DNA, RNA, and proteins.

[0027] With further improvements, the liquid temperature output by the thermostatic circulator 1 is -40℃ to 40℃.

[0028] In a further improvement, the diameter of the glass tube 2 is 10mm to 50mm, and the angle between the capillary tube 2 and the horizontal direction is 90°.

[0029] The present invention also provides a method for changing the microstructure of agar hydrogel by unidirectional freezing. The hydrogel is placed in a glass tube with radial glass tube insulation, so that the glass tube has an axial temperature gradient. The hydrogel begins to freeze near the low temperature side. As ice crystals grow, axial pores are generated inside, the axial modulus decreases, and the fluidity of the liquid is enhanced.

[0030] The device described above for altering the microstructure of agar hydrogel using a one-way freezing method specifically includes the following steps: 1) Mix agar powder with liquid to form a hydrogel and place it in a glass tube; 2) Set the output liquid temperature of the thermostatic circulator to -40℃; 3) As the temperature decreases, the hydrogel begins to freeze. With the growth of ice crystals, axial pores are formed inside, the axial modulus decreases, and the liquid's fluidity increases. ; Among them, E zeff It is the axial modulus after freezing, G m It is the shear modulus of the hydrogel before freezing. The porosity is the value of the hydrogel.

[0031] Schematic diagrams of the internal pores of the hydrogel before and after treatment are shown below. Figure 2-5 As shown, Figure 6 for Figure 4 Orientation analysis in.

[0032] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. Each embodiment focuses on its differences from other embodiments. In particular, for the device embodiments, the above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention. Since they are fundamentally similar to the method embodiments, the descriptions are relatively simple, and relevant parts can be referred to the descriptions of the method embodiments. The above descriptions are merely specific embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, without departing from the principle of the present invention, should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A device for altering the microstructure of agar hydrogel via a one-way freezing method, characterized in that: It includes a glass tube (2) with a radial heat insulation layer, and a hydrogel is provided in the center of the glass tube (2); the upper and lower ends of the glass tube (2) are respectively connected to copper plates (4), and the upper and lower copper plates (4) are connected by a constant temperature circulation device, which creates a temperature difference between the upper and lower copper plates (4).

2. The device for altering the microstructure of agar hydrogel by unidirectional freezing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heat insulation layer is an aerogel layer, and the glass tube has two chambers, an outer chamber filled with aerogel (6) and an inner chamber filled with hydrogel.

3. The device for altering the microstructure of agar hydrogel by unidirectional freezing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The constant temperature circulation device includes a heat preservation pipe (7) and a constant temperature circulator (1). The copper plate (4) has a cavity. The cavities of the upper and lower copper plates (4) and the heat preservation pipe (7) form a circulating liquid circuit. The constant temperature circulator (1) continuously delivers constant temperature liquid into the cavity of one copper plate (4).

4. The device for altering the microstructure of agar hydrogel by unidirectional freezing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hydrogel is formed by mixing liquid with agar powder (5).

5. The device for altering the microstructure of agar hydrogel by unidirectional freezing according to claim 4, characterized in that: The liquid inside the hydrogel is water or cell culture medium.

6. The device for altering the microstructure of agar hydrogel by unidirectional freezing according to claim 4, characterized in that: The liquid within the hydrogel contains one or more combinations of cells, DNA, RNA, and proteins.

7. The device for altering the microstructure of agar hydrogel by unidirectional freezing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The output liquid temperature of the thermostatic circulator (1) is from -40℃ to 40℃.

8. The device for altering the microstructure of agar hydrogel by unidirectional freezing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The diameter of the glass tube (2) is 10 mm to 50 mm, and the angle between the capillary tube (2) and the horizontal direction is 90°.

9. A method for altering the microstructure of agar hydrogel using a one-way freezing method, characterized in that: Hydrogel is placed in a glass tube with radial glass tube insulation, creating an axial temperature gradient in the glass tube. The hydrogel begins to freeze near the low temperature side. As ice crystals grow, axial pores are generated inside, the axial modulus decreases, and the fluidity of the liquid increases.

10. The method for altering the microstructure of agar hydrogel by unidirectional freezing according to claim 9, characterized in that: The apparatus for altering the microstructure of agar hydrogel by unidirectional freezing as described in any one of claims 1-8 specifically includes the following steps: 1) Mix agar powder with liquid to form a hydrogel and place it in a glass tube; 2) Set the output liquid temperature of the thermostatic circulator to -40℃; 3) As the temperature decreases, the hydrogel begins to freeze. With the growth of ice crystals, axial pores are formed inside, the axial modulus decreases, and the liquid's fluidity increases. ； Among them, E zeff It is the axial modulus after freezing, G m It is the shear modulus of the hydrogel before freezing. The porosity is the value of the hydrogel.

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