Hydrogel Creation
Materials:
- Crushed Ibuprofen
- 1% Sodium Alginate
- GDL
- Calcium Carbonate
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| Pictured above is a sample of 0.3135g of GDL |
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| Pictured above is a sample of 2.54 g of crushed ibuprofen drug. |
Process of Creating the Hydrogels
Preparing Materials
In week 7, we clarified the amount of materials that are needed for each variation of hydrogel.
We were provided with 300 mL of 2% sodium alginate to create our hydrogels. In order to continue with our testing and creation, we were required to dilute the 2% sodium alginate solution to a 1% sodium alginate solution. The results of this process are pictured below.
In order to add ibuprofen to out hydrogels, we added the crushed ibuprofen powder into solution.
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| 1% Sodium Alginate Solution |
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| Ibuprofen Solution |
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| Preparation of Hydrogel Petri dish Molds Labeled with variation of Calcium Carbonate Concentrations |
6 g/L Calcium Carbonate
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| Completed Hydrogels with 4 different concentrations of added calcium |
Trial
|
Start (cm)
|
End (cm)
|
Distance Stretched (cm)
|
Observations
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1
|
7.8
|
8.4
|
0.6
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Easily breakable, very wet; 4mm thickness.
|
2
|
7.4
|
8.5
|
1.1
|
Leaves residue (edges); extremely wet, thin edge without ibuprofen on bottom, rim easily came off; 2.5mm thickness
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3*
|
8.7
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8.8
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0.1
|
Needed to be cut out, broke very easily, disintegrating in hands, leaves residue; 3mm thickness
|
Average
|
7.967
|
8.567
|
0.600
|
3.167mm avg thickness
|
7 g/L Calcium Carbonate
Trial
|
Start (cm)
|
End (cm)
|
Distance Stretched
(cm)
|
Observations
|
1
|
7.2
|
8.8
|
1.6
|
Not as wet; slight rim, seems stronger based on feel,
leaves slight residue, barely tore (only on edges); 3mm thickness
|
2*
|
8.7
|
8.8
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0.1
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Needed to be cut out, sticks to dish and paper, very
flexible, stronger than trial 3 of 6, breaks easily in hands; 4mm thickness
|
3*
|
8.8
|
8.9
|
0.1
|
Cut away, very flexible, very wet, feels weak, breaks in
hand, mess, width: 3mm thickness
|
Average
|
8.233
|
8.833
|
0.600
|
3.333mm avg
thickness
|
8 g/L Calcium Carbonate
Trial
|
Start (cm)
|
End (cm)
|
Distance Stretched
(cm)
|
Observations
|
1
|
7.8
|
9.5
|
1.7
|
Only peripheral tear, not in center, good flexibility; 3mm
thickness
|
2
|
7.35
|
9.7
|
2.35
|
Feels lighter than others, large amount of edging; 3mm
thickness
|
3
|
7.7
|
8.8
|
1.1
|
Very small edging, “cleaner”, rubbery, tore easily (as
compared to other 8s); 3mm thickness
|
Average
|
7.617
|
9.333
|
1.717
|
3.000mm avg
thickness
|
9 g/L Calcium Carbonate
Trial
|
Start (cm)
|
End (cm)
|
Distance Stretched
(cm)
|
Observations
|
1
|
7.5
|
9.2
|
1.7
|
Edges have thin, tapered residue; denser than others
(heavier), broke at left end (was not due to pulling), anchoring; 3.5mm
thickness
|
2
|
7.6
|
10.4
|
2.8
|
Heavy, cleaner edges, shifting gelation occurred, barely
torn; 5mm thickness
|
3
|
7.7
|
8.45
|
0.65
|
Wetter, flimsy, thinner, and more breakable; tears
slightly in hands, tore in middle (may be due to original scratching); 4 mm
thickness
|
Average
|
7.600
|
9.350
|
1.717
|
4.167mm avg
thickness
|
Overall Results
Calcium Carbonate Concentration (g/L)
|
Average Distance Stretched (cm)
|
Average Gel Thickness (mm)
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6
|
0.600
|
3.167
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7
|
0.600
|
3.333
|
8
|
1.717
|
3.000
|
9
|
1.717
|
4.167
|
Overall Observations:
With the exception of the * trials, the diameter of each gel shrunk from the size of the petri dish. Thus each gel was left immersed in liquid. In addition, the ibuprofen settled at the bottom of every gel. The top of each sample was smooth, while the bottom was grainier (but still gel-like). The samples of 6 and 7 g/L calcium carbonate concentration varied greatly in appearance and ability to stretch, presumably due to variation in calcium carbonate concentration (the calcium carbonate solution used may not have been homogenous).
With the exception of the * trials, the diameter of each gel shrunk from the size of the petri dish. Thus each gel was left immersed in liquid. In addition, the ibuprofen settled at the bottom of every gel. The top of each sample was smooth, while the bottom was grainier (but still gel-like). The samples of 6 and 7 g/L calcium carbonate concentration varied greatly in appearance and ability to stretch, presumably due to variation in calcium carbonate concentration (the calcium carbonate solution used may not have been homogenous).
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| Top side of the hydrogel |
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| Bottom side of the hydrogel |
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