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Gels
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Marine Gels
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Marine Gels

A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2021) | Viewed by 28487

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Pedro Verdugo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, USA
Interests: biological gels; microgel volume phase transition in exocytosis, goblet, mast cell and phytoplankton secretion; marine biopolymer networks dynamics; biopolymer self-assembly and marine microgels formation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to bring the reader to the frontier of what we presently know about marine gels by inviting colleagues in biogeochemistry, marine microbiology, phytoplankton primary production, mathematical modeling of marine gels’ influence on global carbon cycling, polymer physics of marine networks, and atmospheric science to report on advances on the study of:

  1. Sources and mechanisms of release of self-assembling biopolymers that are the feedstock for gel formation, including phytoplankton primary production and cellular lysis of marine bacteria and protists.
  2. Biogeochemistry and polymer physics of marine biopolymers including, but not limited to, their molecular structure, polydispersity, Z potential, and geographical and water column distribution.
  3. Marine biopolymer self-assembly and microgel formation, including assembly kinetics, thermodynamic yield, and the role of polymer conformation, Z potential, and hydrophobicity in self-assembly and gel formation.
  4. Mechanisms of microgel association and formation of macrogels.
  5. Mathematical modeling of microgel assembly and turnover.
  6. Microgel role in trace metal and aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon pollutant complexation as well as in marine gel interaction with nanoplastic pollution.
  7. Studies on the role of microgels in colloidal reaction catalysis and material caging transport and delivery.
  8. Extents and mechanisms by which bacteria and protists utilize marine gels and how gels formation can eventually change the composition and dynamics of the associated microbial loop and its coupling to higher trophic levels.
  9. Studies on the role of marine microgels in cloud formation.
  10. Reports on theory and application of polyelectrolyte micro- and nanogels technology that may serve as a tutorial on polymer networks theory and as models to guide new research in marine gels formation.

Prof. Dr. Pedro Verdugo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Gels is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • DOM
  • marine microgels
  • polymer networks theory
  • polyelectrolyte networks
  • biopolymer self-assembly
  • primary production
  • phytoplankton secretion
  • microbial loop
  • trace metal and organic pollutant complexation
  • matematical modeling
  • cloud formation

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 164 KiB  
Editorial
Editorial on Special Issue “Marine Gels”
by Pedro Verdugo
Gels 2022, 8(3), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8030150 - 28 Feb 2022
Viewed by 1466
Abstract
The ocean is a complex polymer solution [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Gels)

Review

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17 pages, 913 KiB  
Review
Marine Polymer-Gels’ Relevance in the Atmosphere as Aerosols and CCN
by Mónica V. Orellana, Dennis A. Hansell, Patricia A. Matrai and Caroline Leck
Gels 2021, 7(4), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels7040185 - 28 Oct 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2485
Abstract
Marine polymer gels play a critical role in regulating ocean basin scale biogeochemical dynamics. This brief review introduces the crucial role of marine gels as a source of aerosol particles and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in cloud formation processes, emphasizing Arctic marine microgels. [...] Read more.
Marine polymer gels play a critical role in regulating ocean basin scale biogeochemical dynamics. This brief review introduces the crucial role of marine gels as a source of aerosol particles and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in cloud formation processes, emphasizing Arctic marine microgels. We review the gel’s composition and relation to aerosols, their emergent properties, and physico-chemical processes that explain their change in size spectra, specifically in relation to aerosols and CCN. Understanding organic aerosols and CCN in this context provides clear benefits to quantifying the role of marine nanogel/microgel in microphysical processes leading to cloud formation. This review emphasizes the DOC-marine gel/aerosolized gel-cloud link, critical to developing accurate climate models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Gels)
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35 pages, 9357 KiB  
Review
Marine Biopolymer Dynamics, Gel Formation, and Carbon Cycling in the Ocean
by Pedro Verdugo
Gels 2021, 7(3), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels7030136 - 9 Sep 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2303
Abstract
Much like our own body, our planet is a macroscale dynamic system equipped with a complex set of compartmentalized controls that have made life and evolution possible on earth. Many of these global autoregulatory functions take place in the ocean; paramount among those [...] Read more.
Much like our own body, our planet is a macroscale dynamic system equipped with a complex set of compartmentalized controls that have made life and evolution possible on earth. Many of these global autoregulatory functions take place in the ocean; paramount among those is its role in global carbon cycling. Understanding the dynamics of organic carbon transport in the ocean remains among the most critical, urgent, and least acknowledged challenges to modern society. Dissolved in seawater is one of the earth’s largest reservoirs of reduced organic carbon, reaching ~700 billion tons. It is composed of a polydisperse collection of marine biopolymers (MBP), that remain in reversible assembled↔dissolved equilibrium forming hydrated networks of marine gels (MG). MGs are among the least understood aspects of marine carbon dynamics. Despite the polymer nature of this gigantic pool of material, polymer physics theory has only recently been applied to study MBP dynamics and gel formation in the ocean. There is a great deal of descriptive phenomenology, rich in classifications, and significant correlations. Still missing, however, is the guide of robust physical theory to figure out the fundamental nature of the supramolecular interactions taking place in seawater that turn out to be critical to understanding carbon transport in the ocean. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Gels)
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8 pages, 1687 KiB  
Review
Dissolved Organic Matter in the Global Ocean: A Primer
by Dennis A. Hansell and Mónica V. Orellana
Gels 2021, 7(3), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels7030128 - 28 Aug 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4676
Abstract
Marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) holds ~660 billion metric tons of carbon, making it one of Earth’s major carbon reservoirs that is exchangeable with the atmosphere on annual to millennial time scales. The global ocean scale dynamics of the pool have become better [...] Read more.
Marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) holds ~660 billion metric tons of carbon, making it one of Earth’s major carbon reservoirs that is exchangeable with the atmosphere on annual to millennial time scales. The global ocean scale dynamics of the pool have become better illuminated over the past few decades, and those are very briefly described here. What is still far from understood is the dynamical control on this pool at the molecular level; in the case of this Special Issue, the role of microgels is poorly known. This manuscript provides the global context of a large pool of marine DOM upon which those missing insights can be built. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Gels)
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14 pages, 775 KiB  
Review
From Nano-Gels to Marine Snow: A Synthesis of Gel Formation Processes and Modeling Efforts Involved with Particle Flux in the Ocean
by Antonietta Quigg, Peter H. Santschi, Adrian Burd, Wei-Chun Chin, Manoj Kamalanathan, Chen Xu and Kai Ziervogel
Gels 2021, 7(3), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels7030114 - 9 Aug 2021
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6351
Abstract
Marine gels (nano-, micro-, macro-) and marine snow play important roles in regulating global and basin-scale ocean biogeochemical cycling. Exopolymeric substances (EPS) including transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) that form from nano-gel precursors are abundant materials in the ocean, accounting for an estimated 700 [...] Read more.
Marine gels (nano-, micro-, macro-) and marine snow play important roles in regulating global and basin-scale ocean biogeochemical cycling. Exopolymeric substances (EPS) including transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) that form from nano-gel precursors are abundant materials in the ocean, accounting for an estimated 700 Gt of carbon in seawater. This supports local microbial communities that play a critical role in the cycling of carbon and other macro- and micro-elements in the ocean. Recent studies have furthered our understanding of the formation and properties of these materials, but the relationship between the microbial polymers released into the ocean and marine snow remains unclear. Recent studies suggest developing a (relatively) simple model that is tractable and related to the available data will enable us to step forward into new research by following marine snow formation under different conditions. In this review, we synthesize the chemical and physical processes. We emphasize where these connections may lead to a predictive, mechanistic understanding of the role of gels in marine snow formation and the biogeochemical functioning of the ocean. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Gels)
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14 pages, 1370 KiB  
Review
Marine Gel Interactions with Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Pollutants
by Peter H. Santschi, Wei-Chun Chin, Antonietta Quigg, Chen Xu, Manoj Kamalanathan, Peng Lin and Ruei-Feng Shiu
Gels 2021, 7(3), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels7030083 - 6 Jul 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3593
Abstract
Microgels play critical roles in a variety of processes in the ocean, including element cycling, particle interactions, microbial ecology, food web dynamics, air–sea exchange, and pollutant distribution and transport. Exopolymeric substances (EPS) from various marine microbes are one of the major sources for [...] Read more.
Microgels play critical roles in a variety of processes in the ocean, including element cycling, particle interactions, microbial ecology, food web dynamics, air–sea exchange, and pollutant distribution and transport. Exopolymeric substances (EPS) from various marine microbes are one of the major sources for marine microgels. Due to their amphiphilic nature, many types of pollutants, especially hydrophobic ones, have been found to preferentially associate with marine microgels. The interactions between pollutants and microgels can significantly impact the transport, sedimentation, distribution, and the ultimate fate of these pollutants in the ocean. This review on marine gels focuses on the discussion of the interactions between gel-forming EPS and pollutants, such as oil and other hydrophobic pollutants, nanoparticles, and metal ions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Gels)
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12 pages, 992 KiB  
Review
Transparent Exopolymer Particles in Deep Oceans: Synthesis and Future Challenges
by Toshi Nagata, Yosuke Yamada and Hideki Fukuda
Gels 2021, 7(3), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels7030075 - 22 Jun 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2659
Abstract
Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) are a class of abundant gel-like particles that are omnipresent in seawater. While versatile roles of TEP in the regulation of carbon cycles have been studied extensively over the past three decades, investigators have only recently begun to find [...] Read more.
Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) are a class of abundant gel-like particles that are omnipresent in seawater. While versatile roles of TEP in the regulation of carbon cycles have been studied extensively over the past three decades, investigators have only recently begun to find intriguing features of TEP distribution and processes in deep waters. The emergence of new research reflects the growing attention to ecological and biogeochemical processes in deep oceans, where large quantities of organic carbon are stored and processed. Here, we review recent research concerning the role of TEP in deep oceans. We discuss: (1) critical features in TEP distribution patterns, (2) TEP sources and sinks, and (3) contributions of TEP to the organic carbon inventory. We conclude that gaining a better understanding of TEP-mediated carbon cycling requires the effective application of gel theory and particle coagulation models for deep water settings. To achieve this goal, we need a better recognition and determination of the quantities, turnover, transport, chemical properties, and microbial processing of TEP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Gels)
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Other

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17 pages, 2621 KiB  
Tutorial
Polyelectrolyte Gels: A Unique Class of Soft Materials
by Ferenc Horkay
Gels 2021, 7(3), 102; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels7030102 - 24 Jul 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3034
Abstract
The objective of this article is to introduce the readers to the field of polyelectrolyte gels. These materials are common in living systems and have great importance in many biomedical and industrial applications. In the first part of this paper, we briefly review [...] Read more.
The objective of this article is to introduce the readers to the field of polyelectrolyte gels. These materials are common in living systems and have great importance in many biomedical and industrial applications. In the first part of this paper, we briefly review some characteristic properties of polymer gels with an emphasis on the unique features of this type of soft material. Unsolved problems and possible future research directions are highlighted. In the second part, we focus on the typical behavior of polyelectrolyte gels. Many biological materials (e.g., tissues) are charged (mainly anionic) polyelectrolyte gels. Examples are shown to illustrate the effect of counter-ions on the osmotic swelling behavior and the kinetics of the swelling of model polyelectrolyte gels. These systems exhibit a volume transition as the concentration of higher valence counter-ions is gradually increased in the equilibrium bath. A hierarchy is established in the interaction strength between the cations and charged polymer molecules according to the chemical group to which the ions belong. The swelling kinetics of sodium polyacrylate hydrogels is investigated in NaCl solutions and in solutions containing both NaCl and CaCl2. In the presence of higher valence counter-ions, the swelling/shrinking behavior of these gels is governed by the diffusion of free ions in the swollen network, the ion exchange process and the coexistence of swollen and collapsed states. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Gels)
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