| Hydrogel is a network of porous hydrophilic polymeric chains that can swell in water and use water as a dispersion carrier.The presence of hydrophilic groups in hydrogels enables water to be firmly adsorbed in the three-dimensional mesh structure of the gel,making it water-absorbent and water-retentive.As a new type of carrier,hydrogel has a wide application prospect in many fields by virtue of its water retention and biocompatibility.In this study,we aimed to develop a water-stirred ready-to-use hydrogel for chicks through formulation optimization,structural characterization analysis,color screening and clinical application,which can solve the problem of water shortage during the long-distance transportation and in the early brooding stage of chicks and can also be used as a carrier with the addition of nutrients or drugs.Hydrogel formulation screening and optimization.The composition of the hydrogel and the amount of the main ingredients added were determined by pre-experiments and single-factor tests,and the formulation was evaluated using Box-Behnken responsivity method for optimization.The results indicated that the hydrogel was prepared by physical cross-linking method.The composition and optimal formulation of the hydrogel were:4%sodium polyacrylate super absorbent polymer,10%maltodextrin,1.5%guar gum,and the remaining amount was water.Hydrogel characterization analysis.The microstructure was observed by scanning electron microscopy(SEM),the intermolecular interactions were determined by the shift of the absorption peaks of chemical groups in Fourier transform infrared spectrometer(FTIR),and the changes of physicochemical properties were studied by differential scanning calorimeter(DSC).The SEM results showed that the sodium polyacrylate super absorbent polymer(Super absorbent polymer,SAP)and hydrogel were both porous structures,the addition of maltodextrin(Maltodextrin,MD)and guar gum(Guar gum,GG)can fill the pore space of SAP,making the pores of hydrogel smaller and the structure more dense;FTIR results showed that no new chemical groups were formed in the hydrogel,and the characteristic absorption peaks of all three can appear in the hydrogel,and the-OH stretching vibration peak at 3437 cm-1 for SAP,3397 cm-1 for MD,and 3407 cm-1 for GG.The hydrogel has this absorption peak at 3419 cm-1,while the hydrogel has the absorption peak of carboxyl C=O at 1707 cm-1,which is shifted to lower wave number compared with SAP(1714 cm-1).This indicated that intermolecular entanglement occurred between the three,and the hydrogel contained a large number of carboxyl groups,which was conducive to the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds;the DSC results showed that the heat absorption peak of the hydrogel moved toward the high temperature and the warming curve of the hydrogel formed a different broad peak than that of the single substance,indicating that a phase transition occurred,and it is presumed that some interaction between the three occurred.The effect of different colors of hydrogel on the feeding of chicks.Healthy white feather broiler chicks were selected for gel colors screening test.The chicks were randomly divided into four groups,groups 1～3 were fed with hydrogels with different pigments,and group 4 was a blank control group,and the hydrogels were fed regularly every day for 14 days.The chicks’ gels intake and growth performance indexes were finally counted.The results showed that the color preference of the chicks was tartrazine>blank>carmine>erioglaucine disodium salt throughout the test period,however,there was no obvious difference in gel feed intake among the groups at the later stage of the experiment(P>0.05),showing that the chicks cultivated feeding habits at the later stage;in tenns of growth performance,the daily weight gain and feed-to-weight ratio of the tartrazine group were better than those of the other three groups at the beginning of the experiment,but there was no obvious difference at the later stage.The results corresponded to the color preference,indicating that the hydrogel could improve the growth performance.Effect of drug-loaded hydrogels on growth performance and intestinal flora of broiler chicks.Healthy white feather broiler chicks were selected,and oregano oil,macleaya cordata which our laboratory were pre-researched as gels for drug-loaded application,Using hydrogel as a carrier,the oregano oil and borrelia,and the effects of the compound drug and single drug components on chicks growth performance and intestinal flora were investigated.The results showed that the daily weight gain of the drug administration group was higher than that of the control group,and the feed-to-weight ratio was better than that of the control group,and between the drug administration groups,the daily weight gain of the compound drug was higher than that of the single drug group,and the feed-to-weight ratio was significantly better than that of the single drug group(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference between the two single drug groups.The results of intestinal flora showed that the single drug group mainly acted by increasing the diversity of flora,while the compound drug mainly regulated the intestinal flora by increasing the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and decreasing the harmful flora by increasing the beneficial flora through bacteriostatic effect.In summary,a hydrogel carrier for chicks was prepared in this experiment,and the three substrates interacted with each other,with a more dense structure,smaller voids and better stability.The addition of tartrazine to the hydrogel can induce chicks feeding and promote their growth.Oregano oil and macleaya cordata gels were prepared using hydrogels as carriers,both of which could improve the growth performance of chicks and regulate the intestinal flora. |
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