Mechanical and magnetic properties of Biocompatible ferrogels

Abstract

The research developed in this work is structured in the following parts: Chapter 2. In this chapter, the physico-chemical characterization and mechanical properties of magnetic hydrogels containing sepiolite-magnetite particles are studied. First of all, in this chapter the synthesis of sepiolite (fiber-like shaped) clay particles covered by magnetite nanoparticles, carried out by the co-precipitation method, is described. Afterwards, the adsorption of alginate molecules onto the composite particles is checked by means of zeta potential measurements. In addition, the most relevant magnetic properties of the particles are depicted. Then, the preparation of alginate hydrogels and alginate/(clay-magnetite) ferrogels, by crosslinking of alginate molecules with calcium ions, is detailed. Finally, the rheological properties, in the absence and presence of external magnetic field, as well as the microstructural study of the different hydrogels obtained with embedded particles are presented. Chapter 3. This chapter includes a similar study to that of chapter 2, but in this case for suspensions and magnetic hydrogels containing montmorillonite-magnetite platelets. Chapter 4. In this one we describe an ex-vivo study, using different techniques, of the biocompatibility of the suspensions and ferrogels containing sepiolite-magnetite particles. Chapter 5 is devoted to remark the most relevant achievements attained and also the main conclusions drawn from this research work. Finally, chapter 6 includes the references cited along whole thesis.