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A Rapidly Self‐Healing Host–Guest Supramolecular Hydrogel with High Mechanical Strength and Excellent Biocompatibility
Author(s) -
Wang Zhifang,
Ren Yipeng,
Zhu Ye,
Hao Lijing,
Chen Yunhua,
An Geng,
Wu Hongkai,
Shi Xuetao,
Mao Chuanbin
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201804400
Subject(s) - biocompatibility , self healing hydrogels , supramolecular chemistry , acrylate , polymerization , covalent bond , materials science , chemistry , self healing , nanotechnology , molecule , polymer chemistry , polymer , organic chemistry , copolymer , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
Abstract It is still a challenge to achieve both excellent mechanical strength and biocompatibility in hydrogels. In this study, we exploited two interactions to form a novel biocompatible, slicing‐resistant, and self‐healing hydrogel. The first was molecular host–guest recognition between a host (isocyanatoethyl acrylate modified β‐cyclodextrin) and a guest (2‐(2‐(2‐(2‐(adamantyl‐1‐oxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol acrylate) to form “three‐arm” host–guest supramolecules (HGSMs), and the second was covalent bonding between HGSMs (achieved by UV‐initiated polymerization) to form strong cross‐links in the hydrogel. The host–guest interaction enabled the hydrogel to rapidly self‐heal. When it was cut, fresh surfaces were formed with dangling host and guest molecules (due to the breaking of host–guest recognition), which rapidly recognized each other again to heal the hydrogel by recombination of the cut surfaces. The smart hydrogels hold promise for use as biomaterials for soft‐tissue repair.