Conclusion
An analytical model is developed to quantitatively design artificial ECM
gels that exhibit thermosensitive and reversible shrinking above body
temperature. The modeling is based on the mean-field thermodynamic
theory by Flory-Huggins-Rehner, from which an explicit equation is
derived to include tunable parameters on the gel structure and
elasticity, chemical composition of the gel matrix, and molecular
conformation of the biopolymers. It is revealed that the temperature
range of volume phase transition is (1) primarily a function of the
doping ratio of thermoresponsive polymer in the hybrid matrix, and is
(2) sensitive to the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter between the
biopolymer and water. This model can be a simple and robust tool for
precisely designing intelligent tissue-like hydrogel materials and
devices.