@article{Mancino2023,
title = {Agarose Cryogels: Production Process Modeling and Structural Characterization },
author = {Raffaele Mancino and Diego Caccavo and Anna Angela Barba and Gaetano Lamberti and Alice Biasin and Angelo Cortesi and Gabriele Grassi and Mario Grassi and Michela Abrami},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85172281028&doi=10.3390%2fgels9090765&partnerID=40&md5=7753d30977c1b97694c4ede138749d57},
doi = {10.3390/gels9090765},
issn = {23102861},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-09-20},
journal = {Gels},
volume = {9},
number = {9},
pages = {765},
abstract = {A cryogel is a cross-linked polymer network with different properties that are determined by its manufacturing technique. The formation of a cryogel occurs at low temperatures and results in a porous structure whose pore size is affected by thermal conditions. The adjustable pore sizes of cryogels make them attractive for diverse applications. In this study, the influence of the external operational temperature, which affects the cooling and freezing rates, on the production of cryogels with 2% w/w agarose is investigated. Moreover, a mathematical model is developed to simulate the cryogel production process and provide an initial estimate of the pore size within the structure. The predictions of the model, supported by qualitative light microscopy images, demonstrate that cryogels produced at higher process temperatures exhibit larger pore sizes. Moreover, the existence of pore size distribution within the gel structure is confirmed. Finally, stress relaxation tests, coupled with an image analysis, validates that cryogels produced at lower temperatures possess a higher stiffness and slower water release rates.},
keywords = {Agarose, cryogels, Equilibrium, Hydrogels, Modeling, Rheology},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

@article{Piano}2023b,
title = {Polyelectrolyte hydrogels in biological systems: Modeling of swelling and deswelling behavior},
author = {Raffaella {De Piano} and Diego Caccavo and Anna Angela Barba and Gaetano Lamberti},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85161532217&doi=10.1016%2fj.ces.2023.118959&partnerID=40&md5=a269515dd96617e9242f75711516e847},
doi = {10.1016/j.ces.2023.118959},
issn = {00092509},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-09-05},
journal = {Chemical Engineering Science},
volume = {279},
number = {118959},
abstract = {Polyelectrolyte hydrogels are a particular class of hydrogel whose behavior is connected to the variation of pH in the surrounding solution. Their behavior is influenced by the ionizable groups present on their chain. These groups could be acid or basic and polyelectrolytes could be anionic or cationic. To fully understand their behavior mathematical modeling has been widely used over many years. In this work a model based on a monophasic approach will be used to describe a general behavior of anionic hydrogels in a steady state condition at pH lower (or equal) to seven. Free swelling experiments and constrained swelling experiments have been simulated varying the parameters of the model to highlight the properties of the material. From a comparison with experimental data, it results that the proposed model can describe the general behavior of the system as described in the literature.},
keywords = {Biological systems, Equilibrium, Hydrogels, Modeling, Polyelectrolytes},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}