Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog or cat health: how mesh size affects calcium alginate hydrogels
By Liu Y et al.·2026·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Mesh size regulates diffusion in calcium alginate hydrogels: a spatiotemporal approach combining experiments and COMSOL-based modeling
Plain-English summary
This study looked at how the size of the spaces in calcium-alginate hydrogels affects how easily substances can move through them. Researchers created hydrogels with different amounts of alginate and measured their properties, such as how much they swell and how tightly packed the mesh is. They found that as the concentration of alginate increased and the mesh size decreased, the movement of substances through the gel slowed down. Although their models didn't perfectly match the actual measurements, they were able to improve their predictions by considering the shape and flexibility of the substances involved. Overall, the study shows that the size of the mesh in these hydrogels plays a key role in how well substances can be released from them, which is important for designing gels for specific uses.
Abstract
This study systematically investigates the relationship between mesh size and solute diffusivity in calcium-alginate hydrogels using tetramethyl-rhodamine isothiocyanate dextran as a model solute. Hydrogels were prepared at different alginate concentrations and characterized for storage modulus, swelling ratio, and mesh size. Local and effective diffusion coefficients were determined by fitting spatiotemporal fluorescence profiles with a COMSOL diffusion model, revealing a clear decrease in diffusivity with increasing hydrogel concentration and decreasing mesh size. Our analysis demonstrated high reproducibility for most formulations. Experimental data were compared to predictions of a multiscale diffusion model integrating free volume and obstruction theory, with further refinement using empirical corrections for dextran shape and flexibility. While theoretical models slightly underestimated measured diffusion coefficients most probably due to gel microheterogeneity, incorporation of molecular corrections improved predictive accuracy albeit that a systemic difference remains. The findings confirm that solute mobility in alginate hydrogels is governed by the mesh size of the network, thus supporting rational hydrogel design for controlled release applications.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/IND609455806