Work

One-Pot Anodic Electrodeposition of Dual-Cation-Crosslinked Sodium Alginate/Carboxymethyl Chitosan Interpenetrating Hydrogel with Vessel-Mimetic Heterostructures

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study develops a one-pot anodic templating electrodeposition strategy using dual-cation-crosslinking and interpenetrating networks, coupled with pulsed electrical signals, to fabricate a vessel-mimetic multilayered tubular hydrogel. Typically, the anodic electrodeposition is performed in a mixture of sodium alginate (SA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), with the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid calcium disodium salt hydrate (EDTA·Na2Ca) incorporated to provide a secondary ionic crosslinker (i.e., Ca2+) and modulate the cascade reaction diffusion process. The copper wire electrodes serve as templates for electrochemical oxidation and enable a copper ion (i.e., Cu2+)-induced tubular hydrogel coating formation, while pulsed electric fields regulate layer-by-layer deposition. The dual-cation-crosslinked interpenetrating hydrogels (CMC/SA-Cu/Ca) exhibit rapid growth rates and tailored mechanical strength, along with excellent antibacterial performance. By integrating the unique pulsed electro-fabrication with biomimetic self-assembly, this study addresses challenges in vessel-mimicking structural complexity and mechanical compatibility. The approach enables scalable production of customizable multilayered hydrogels for artificial vessel grafts, smart wound dressings, and bioengineered organ interfaces, demonstrating broad biomedical potential.

Source: Journal of Functional Biomaterials

DOI: 10.3390/jfb16070235