Engineering and Exploring Hydrolytic Degradation in 3D-Printed Liquid Crystalline Elastomers.
Lorin C Danielsen1,2, Jason A Burdick1,2, Timothy J White1,3
1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States.
Biomacromolecules
|April 3, 2026
Summary
Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) show tunable degradation for biomedical applications. Hydrophilic additives accelerate breakdown, while mechanical properties remain stable until failure.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are promising biomaterials.
- Existing LCEs require property optimization for biomedical applications, particularly regarding degradation.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate hydrolytic degradation of LCEs.
- Explore methods to accelerate LCE degradation.
- Analyze changes in thermal and mechanical properties during degradation.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized LCEs using thiol-Michael addition and thiol-ene photo-cross-linking.
- Incorporated hydrophilic chain extenders (e.g., PEG) to modify degradation rates.
- Monitored degradation using surface erosion analysis.
- Characterized thermal and mechanical properties via 1H NMR, SAXS, and DSC.
Main Results:
- LCEs synthesized via thiol-Michael addition/thiol-ene photo-cross-linking exhibited rapid degradation.
- Hydrophilic chain extenders significantly accelerated LCE degradation.
- Nematic-to-isotropic transition temperatures increased during heterogeneous surface erosion.
- Actuation potential, alignment, and mechanical anisotropy remained stable until material failure.
Conclusions:
- LCE degradation is tunable via chemistry and additives like PEG.
- Degradation-induced thermal property changes are linked to retained mesogen-rich products.
- LCEs demonstrate potential for tunable biomedical applications with stable mechanical performance during degradation.
