Mechanical strengthened alginate/polyacrylamide hydrogel crosslinked by barium and ferric dual ions

Alginate/polyacrylamide hybrid hydrogel has attracted intense interests in different fields, but the low tensile strength and stiffness limit its comprehensive application. In this hydrogel system, the alginate–cation network plays an important role. Thus, based on the unique structure of alginate and its special interaction with different metal cations, we designed a new method of introducing barium and ferric ions together to crosslink the alginate sufficiently, creating a stronger alginate network. As a result, the prepared hybrid hydrogel exhibits enhanced strength and stiffness, which may serve as a new way to develop stronger hydrogel.