Design of Hydrogel Membranes with embedded magnetic particles

A. MANJUA; F. VACA CHAVEZ; PEDRO J. SEBASTIÃO; JOÃO CRESPO; C. PORTUGAL

Congreso; 12th International Chemical and Biological Engineering Conference; 2014

In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel membranes were functionalized by dispersion of Fe3O4 particles into the membrane matrix. PVA membranes with randomly dispersed and aligned Fe3O4 particles were prepared. PVA membranes with different contents of well aligned Fe3O4 particles were obtained by application of an external magnetic field. Analysis of surface contact angles revealed the ability of these membranes to respond to an external magnetic field by the decrease of its contact angle, i.e. increase of its hydrophilic character. Protein adsorption studies demonstrated that the use of PVA membrane surfaces with aligned Fe3O4 particles and magnetic field inhibits protein adsorption. Protein adsorption can be tuned by adjustment of an external magnetic field.