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Hydrogel Swelling Kinetics Monitoring System
M-Biotech's Hydrogel Kinetics Monitoring System is a
powerful tool for evaluating the characteristics of hydrogel in a precise
and time-efficient manner. This system is based on M-Biotech's
patented pressure biosensor technology.
Much research attention has been paid to materials that
exhibit change in physical and chemical structure in response to external
stimuli such as pH, temperature, and analyte concentration.
Physical and chemical structure change of hydrogels cause a change in the
volume of hydrogel as it absorbs or desorbs water.
Recently, these materials, called intelligent
materials, have been focused for use with sensors, actuators, and drug
delivery systems. Hydrogel researchers are mainly interested in the
degree of responsiveness (volume change) to external stimuli.
Furthermore, they are interested in examining the long-term
reproducibility of such responses.
The conventional method of monitoring
swelling/deswelling kinetics of hydrogels is the weighing
technique. In brief, the weighing procedure is as follows: hydrogel
samples are taken from solution, water is removed on the sample surface
by lightly blotting with paper, the hydrogel is weighed using a balance,
and finally the measured weights are recorded. This technique,
however, is tedious and cumbersome because weighing should be repeated at
many selected times. In addition, it is difficult to discern a
delicate weight change of a hydrogel in response to its environment.
Compared to conventional methods of measuring hydrogel
properties, M-Biotech's System has the following advantages:
Continuous Evaluation
Offers quantitative and continuous tracking of hydrogel
swelling / de-swelling in an aqueous medium as a function of time.
Consistency
Eliminates the tedious and sometimes incorrect weighing
procedure currently used to determine the level of soaking or water
absorption of hydrogel.
Versatility
Enables researchers to study hydrogel responses to
single or multiple environmental variables. Typical variables
include: pH, temperature, and the concentration of analytes. The
temperature and analyte concentration patterns are fully programmable.
Sensitivity
Utilizes very sensitive pressure transducers so that a small
change in the swelling level (up to a few percent) can be precisely
measured and stored as data for analysis.
Flexibility
Adapts to meet the various needs of a hydrogel research
group.
System Specifications
Detailed Probe Diagram
Printer Friendly Version
Ordering
To purchase or for questions about the Hydrogel
Swelling Kinetics Monitoring System, please email us at m-biotech@m-biotech.com, or
call us at 801.352.1733 for further information.
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