Harnessing the Interplay of Triple Cross-Linked Hydrogels toward Multiresponsive Alginate-Based Injectable Gels for...

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Developing advanced polymer networks with tunable properties is crucial for various applications.
• Stimuli-responsive materials offer unique functionalities for controlled drug delivery and tissue engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel single-chain polymer gelator.
• To investigate the cooperative cross-linking mechanisms and stimuli-responsive behavior of the developed material.
• To explore the potential of this material for 3D printing and its tunable mechanical properties.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of an alginate backbone double grafted with thermoresponsive P(NIPAM-co-NtBAM)-NH2 polymer grafts and 3-aminophenylboronic acid moieties.
• Characterization of the polymer network formation through hydrophobic association, boronate ester formation, and ionic interactions.
• Evaluation of mechanical properties (storage modulus) under various stimuli (temperature, pH, glucose).
• Assessment of material's biocompatibility (non-toxicity) and 3D printability.

Main Results:

• The polymer gelator formed robust networks via three cooperative cross-linking mechanisms.
• Mechanical properties were highly tunable, with storage modulus ranging from ~260 Pa to ~1390 Pa, controlled by temperature, pH, and glucose.
• The material demonstrated non-toxicity and capability for 3D printing complex structures.
• The 3D printed structures exhibited multi-stimuli-responsive erosion profiles.

Conclusions:

• A novel single-chain polymer gelator with multiple cross-linking mechanisms was successfully developed.
• The material exhibits excellent tunable mechanical properties and multi-stimuli responsiveness.
• The developed gelator is non-toxic, 3D printable, and shows potential for applications requiring adaptive material properties.