A multiparametric model for an electrostatic dripping process coupled to a sol-gel transformation for the formation of hydrogel microbeads

JUAN CARLOS ILARDO; IGNACIO RINTOUL

Simposio; 1st PhD Student Symposium on "Materials for Energy, Environment and Health"; 2021

AUGM-BAYLAT

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels in theform of microbeads find important applications in regenerative medicine andcontrolled drug delivery technologies. Electrostatic dripping of aPVA-levamisole aqueous solution followed by a sol-gel transformation of thegenerated microdrops is a useful technique to obtain microbeads with controlledsize, size distribution and tailored gel structures. However, the relationshipbetween the conditions of the electrostatic dripping process coupled to thesol-gel transformation with the resulting properties of the obtained microbeadsis not fully understood and deserves investigation. Levamisole is a well-knownantiparasite widely used in human and animal health. PVA is a versatilehydrosoluble and biocompatible polymer.The objective of this contribution is theestablishment of the cross-functionality of the main variables of anelectrostatic dripping process coupled to a sol-gel transformation reaction inthe size, shape and structural parameters of resulting PVA-levamisolemicrobeads.