Tough polypseudorotaxane supramolecular hydrogels with dual-responsive shape memory properties
Wei Feng1, Wanfu Zhou, Zhaohe Dai
1CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China. yhy@ustc.edu.cn.
Journal of Materials Chemistry. B
|April 9, 2020
Summary
We developed mechanically tough cyclodextrin-polypseudorotaxane hydrogels using a simple photoinitiated copolymerization method. These advanced hydrogels exhibit remarkable strength, fatigue resistance, and shape memory properties for smart applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Supramolecular Chemistry
Background:
- Cyclodextrin-polypseudorotaxane hydrogels show promise in biomedical applications.
- Developing mechanically robust and smart hydrogels remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a facile strategy for in situ formation of mechanically tough polypseudorotaxane hydrogels.
- To investigate the host-guest interaction dynamics during hydrogel formation.
- To explore the shape memory capabilities of the synthesized hydrogels.
Main Methods:
- Photoinitiated copolymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate, acrylamide, and sodium acrylate in α-cyclodextrin solution.
- Utilizing acrylamide as a temporary hydrogen bonding weakening monomer.
- Treatment with FeCl3 solution to impart shape memory properties.
Main Results:
- Formation of mechanically tough polypseudorotaxane hydrogels with 80% compressive strain tolerance.
- Demonstration of excellent antifatigue properties.
- Achieved thermal/ascorbic acid activated shape memory performance.
Conclusions:
- A simple and effective method for synthesizing robust supramolecular hydrogels was developed.
- The hydrogels exhibit tunable properties suitable for advanced applications.
- This work contributes to the design of smart, high-performance hydrogel materials.
