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Injectable Self-Healing Zwitterionic Hydrogels Based on Dynamic Benzoxaborole-Sugar Interactions with Tunable
Yangjun Chen1, Wenda Wang1, Di Wu2
1Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G6, Canada.
Biomacromolecules
|January 18, 2018
Summary
New zwitterionic dynamic hydrogels were developed using benzoxaborole and sugar interactions. These biomimetic hydrogels exhibit excellent biocompatibility, self-healing, and tunable mechanical properties for biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Arylboronic ester-based dynamic hydrogels offer self-healing and injectability for biomedical uses.
- Existing hydrogels face challenges in biocompatibility, physiological usability, and mechanical property tuning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize novel zwitterionic hydrogels using phospholipid-inspired copolymers.
- To investigate the impact of sugar content and pH on hydrogel properties.
- To evaluate the biocompatibility and responsiveness of the developed hydrogels.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of zwitterionic copolymers (PMB and PMG) via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization.
- Formation of PMBG hydrogels through dynamic benzoxaborole-sugar interactions.
- Rheological measurements to study mechanical properties under varying sugar content and pH.
- In vitro cytotoxicity tests on normal and cancer cells.
Main Results:
- PMBG hydrogels formed spontaneously with tunable mechanical strength influenced by sugar content and pH.
- Hydrogels demonstrated self-healing, injectability, and pH/sugar responsiveness.
- Excellent biocompatibility confirmed through in vitro cytotoxicity assays.
Conclusions:
- Zwitterionic dynamic hydrogels based on benzoxaborole-sugar interactions offer promising properties for biomedical applications.
- The biomimetic nature of phosphorylcholine and sugar residues contributes to excellent biocompatibility.
- Tunable mechanical properties and responsiveness enhance their potential for diverse uses.
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