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Updated: Nov 2, 2025
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Synthesis of Stimuli-responsive Nanogels using Aqueous One-step Crosslinking and Co-nanopolymerization
Published on: January 24, 2025
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Redox-responsive supramolecular polymeric networks having double-threaded inclusion complexes
Hikaru Aramoto1, Motofumi Osaki1, Subaru Konishi1
1Department of Macromolecular Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho Toyonaka Osaka 560-0043 Japan hiroyasu@chem.sci.osaka-u.ac.jp.
Chemical Science
|June 14, 2021
Summary
This study developed advanced hydrogel actuators using 1:2 host-guest complexes for enhanced muscle-like performance. These novel actuators exhibit significantly faster and larger deformations compared to previous designs.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Soft Robotics
Background:
- Stimuli-responsive hydrogels are explored as artificial muscles for soft actuators.
- Current designs often utilize 1:1 host-guest inclusion complexes to modulate hydrogel cross-linking density.
- Achieving faster and larger deformations requires enhanced control over cross-linking dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel hydrogel actuators with improved deformation properties.
- To investigate the efficacy of 1:2 host-guest inclusion complexes for enhanced actuator performance.
- To design a redox-responsive hydrogel actuator utilizing supramolecular chemistry.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of hydrogel actuators cross-linked via host-guest interactions.
- Utilized γ-cyclodextrin (γCD) as the host and viologen derivatives (VC11) as the guest, forming 1:2 inclusion complexes.
- Characterization of mechanical properties, including deformation ratio and response speed under redox stimuli.
Main Results:
- The γCD-VC11 hydrogel, cross-linked with 1:2 inclusion complexes, demonstrated superior performance.
- Compared to 1:1 complex hydrogels (αCD-VC11, βCD-VC11), the 1:2 complex hydrogel showed significantly faster and larger deformation.
- The γCD-VC11 hydrogel exhibited 3x larger deformation ratio and 11x faster response speed than previous βCD/ferrocene 1:1 complex hydrogels.
Conclusions:
- 1:2 host-guest inclusion complexes enable superior stimuli-responsive hydrogel actuators.
- The designed γCD-VC11 hydrogel offers a promising platform for advanced soft robotics and artificial muscle applications.
- Supramolecular cross-linking by 1:2 complexes is an effective strategy for enhancing hydrogel actuator performance.
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