Unsteady Mass Transfer in Graphene Oxide Hydrogels in Relation to 3D-Bioprinting Technologies
摘要
Using the methods of moving boundaries and optical probing, a comparison is made of the patterns of diffusion front propagation in both pure agarose hydrogels and those with the addition of graphene oxide and the mass-conducting properties of the gel systems are measured. It is established that graphene oxide has high surface activity and becomes part of the gel’s network structure, increasing its porosity and thus influencing the rate and efficiency of diffusion. In addition, graphene oxide helps to organize the gel structure or reduces light scattering within the gel. The combination of hydrogels with graphene oxide allows the creation of systems with controlled optical properties, which in turn opens up new possibilities for improving 3D bioprinting technologies. Based on the random walk method, a numerical model is proposed that is well suited for describing the structures of hydrogels with graphene oxide. This model will allow us to determine the quality of materials in 3D bioprinting technologies in terms of the efficiency of nutrient delivery to living microorganisms located within the gel. Comparison of experimental data and numerical simulations demonstrates their significant agreement.