Scale-Specific Viscoelastic Characterization of Hydrogels: Integrated AFM and Finite Element Modeling

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Nicole Fertala - , Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden (Author)
  • Klemens Uhlmann - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Evgeny Grigoryev - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Prannoy Seth - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden (Author)
  • Jens Friedrichs - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden (Author)
  • Julian Thiele - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (Author)
  • Carsten Werner - , Chair of Biofunctional Polymer Materials, Clusters of Excellence PoL: Physics of Life, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden (Author)
  • Daniel Balzani - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)

Abstract

Viscoelastic hydrogels mimic the dynamic mechanical properties of native extracellular matrices, making them essential for biomedical applications. However, characterizing their scale-dependent mechanical properties remains challenging, despite their critical influence on cell-material interactions and biomaterial performance. Here, an integrated experimental-computational approach is presented to quantify and model the viscoelastic behavior of interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels across micro- and macro-scales. Atomic force microscopy-based stress relaxation tests revealed that microgels exhibit rapid, localized relaxation, while macroscopic bulk gels displayed prolonged relaxation dominated by poroelastic effects. Finite element simulations accurately replicated experimental conditions, enabling the extraction of key parameters: fully relaxed elastic modulus, relaxation modulus, and relaxation time constant. A novel analytical model is further developed to predict viscoelastic parameters from experimental data with minimal error (<6%), significantly streamlining characterization. The findings highlight the necessity of scale-specific mechanical analysis and provide a robust platform for designing biomaterials with tailored viscoelasticity for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere07835
JournalSmall
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - Dec 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0003-0189-3448/work/199958504

Keywords

Keywords

  • atomic force microscopy, finite element modeling, interpenetrating polymer networks, scale-dependent mechanics, viscoelastic hydrogels