Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Injectable Supramolecular Polymer-Nanoparticle Hydrogels for Cell and Drug Delivery Applications
Published on: February 7, 2021
A Mechanically Robust, Stiff, and Tough Hyperbranched Supramolecular Polymer Hydrogel
Jia Li1, Jianhai Yang1, Wenguang Liu1
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
Abstract:
In this study, a simple yet versatile method is introduced to prepare a hyperbranched supramolecular polymer hydrogel by utilizing Type II photoinitiated self-condensing vinyl polymerization of N-acryloyl glycinamide, which can serve not only as an inimer providing branching sites, but also as a hydrogen-bonding cross-linker. The hyperbranched poly(N-acryloyl glycinamide) (HB-PNAGA) hydrogels demonstrate excellent mechanical performances with a tensile strength of 0.793-2.724 MPa, elongation at break of 203-902%, Young's modulus of 0.450-1.172 MPa, and maximal fracture energy of 2200 J m-2 , which are all superior to those of linear PNAGA hydrogels. The results indicate that the HB-PNAGA hydrogel is very stiff and tough due to much higher H-bonding cross-linking density formed in hyperbranched architecture. The high stiffness, toughness, and ease of preparation make these hyperbranched supramolecular hydrogels very attractive for application as soft supporting tissue replacements.
Related Concept Videos
Polymers
Polymers
Toughness and Hardness of Aggregate
Polymer Classification: Architecture
Polymer Classification: Crystallinity
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

