U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Liu, Linshuitem
                                            Cooke, Peteritem
                                            Coffin, Daviditem
                                            Fishman, Marshallitem
                                            Hicks, Kevin
  Submitted to: Journal of Applied Polymer Science
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 11/20/2003
                                    Publication  Date: 3/3/2004
                                    Citation: Liu, L.S., Cooke, P.H., Coffin, D.R., Fishman, M.L., Hicks, K.B. 2004. Pectin and polyacrylamide composite hydrogels:  effect of pectin on structural and dynamic mechanical properties. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 92:1893-1901.Interpretive Summary: In order to develop value-added materials from low-valued by-products of agricultural processes, studies on new applications of abundant pectic polysaccharides found in citrus wastes were conducted. We found that cross-linking polyacrylamide in pectin solution resulted in a composite hydrogel, which has greater capacities to absorb and retain water than polyacrylamide alone, and possesses improved mechanical properties over pectin alone. Furthermore, the polymerization of acrylamide in an existing pectin scaffold can protect the network architecture of polyacrylamide from collapse resulting from freeze-drying. The technologies developed from this study will be useful for the construction of pectin-based hydrogels with properties tailored for biomedical and industrial applications. Especially, it highlights a new use of pectin in formulation of biomacromolecule based drugs. Citrus fruit growers and juice processors could benefit from this research because new uses and markets for pectin will increase the value to their by-products and improve their overall profitability.
                                Technical Abstract: Composite hydrogels of pectin and polyacrylamide were synthesized and evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, light microscopy, and by dynamic mechanical analysis.   The cross-linking polymerization of acrylamide in pectin solution resulted in a composite having a macroporous pectin domain with an interstitial polyacrylamide domain.  This composite had improved mechanical properties compared to either polymer alone, and it absorbed and retained more water than cross-linked polyacrylamide alone.  Furthermore, cross-linking polymerization of acrylamide in an existing pectinate scaffold resulted in a double network architecture, where filamentous polyacrylamide networks penetrated through pores of the pectin scaffold.  It was found that pectins dictated the features of microstructure in the composites through regulating the coordination of phase separation of the two components and water partition between the two phases.  Results from this study highlight potential new uses of pectins in protecting the physical structure of environmentally sensitive polymers from mechanical damage related to freezing, lyophilization, and other conditions experienced during their use in biomedical and industrial products.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov