Photo-degradable, tough and highly stretchable hydrogels
Rita G Fonseca1, Francesco De Bon1, Patrícia Pereira1,2
1CEMMPRE - Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal.
Materials Today. Bio
|June 27, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed highly stretchable and tough hydrogels that degrade with light. These novel materials are non-cytotoxic and offer potential applications in wearable electronics and biomedical devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Hydrogels are versatile biomaterials with applications in various fields.
- Developing hydrogels with controlled degradation and robust mechanical properties remains a challenge.
- Photodegradable components offer a method for external control over hydrogel properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize highly stretchable and tough hydrogels with light-triggered photodegradation.
- To investigate the mechanical properties and biocompatibility of these novel hydrogels.
- To explore the potential applications of these hydrogels in wearable electrocardiography.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a double-network hydrogel using alginate and polyacrylamide (PAAm).
- Incorporation of a photodegradable o-nitrobenzyl (ONB) crosslinker.
- Mechanical testing, cell viability assays (NIH3T3), and skin-electrode impedance measurements.
Main Results:
- Achieved highly stretchable and tough hydrogels with controlled light-triggered degradation.
- The ONB crosslinker did not compromise the hydrogel's mechanical properties.
- Hydrogels and their degradation products demonstrated no cytotoxicity.
- Demonstrated lower skin-electrode impedance compared to Ag/AgCl electrodes in wearable ECG applications.
Conclusions:
- The developed hydrogels offer a promising platform for next-generation biomaterials.
- Controlled photodegradation enables tuneable material properties and environmentally friendly disposal.
- Potential applications span health, electronics, and energy sectors due to combined mechanical strength, stretchability, and controlled degradation.
