Ordered sulfonated polystyrene particle chains organized through AC electroosmosis as reinforcing phases in Polyacrylamide hydrogels

Polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogels have garnered significant attention due to their unique swelling properties, biocompatibility, and stability, resulting in them being promising candidates for various applications, ranging from drug delivery to tissue engineering. However, traditional PAM hydrogels suffer from low strength and poor toughness, which limits their widespread use. In this study, based on the theory of filler-reinforced composites, we introduced ordered sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) particles into PAM hydrogels using electric field-assisted techniques. The effects of the geometric dimensions and filling concentration of SPS particles on thermal stability, swelling/deswelling behavior, and mechanical properties of composite hydrogels were investigated. When filled with ordered 100 nm SPS particles at a concentration of 2.0 g·L-1, the resulting SPS/PAM composite exhibited improved water retention capacity, as well as a fracture elongation of 316 % and a tensile strength of 23 kPa. These findings in the paper provide valuable insights into the understanding of PAM hydrogels and open up new avenues for the development of advanced hydrogel-based systems with enhanced performance and functionality.