Spontaneous patterning and nanoparticle encapsulation in carboxymethylcellulose/alginate/dextran hydrogels and sponges

Novel polysaccharide sponges containing a network of capillaries and pore structures have been prepared by freeze drying of Ca2+ ion cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose/sodium alginate hydrogels with or without addition of dextran. The iontropic gels consisted of capillaries, 5 to 40 µm in width, which comprised small pores, 1–25 µm in size. Gold, Fe3O4 or TiO2 nanoparticles were encapsulated in the patterned gels and the mechanical strength of the resulting sponges investigated.