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Hydrogels Generated from Cyclic Poly(2‐Oxazoline)s Display Unique Swelling and Mechanical Properties
Author(s) -
Trachsel Lucca,
Romio Matteo,
ZenobiWong Marcy,
Benetti Edmondo M.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.202000658
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , polymer , molar mass , swelling , materials science , macromolecule , polymer chemistry , linear polymer , intramolecular force , polymer science , chemical engineering , chemistry , composite material , stereochemistry , biochemistry , engineering
Cyclic macromolecules do not feature chain ends and are characterized by a higher effective intramolecular repulsion between polymer segments, leading to a higher excluded‐volume effect and greater hydration with respect to their linear counterparts. As a result of these unique properties, hydrogels composed of cross‐linked cyclic polymers feature enhanced mechanical strength while simultaneously incorporating more solvent with respect to networks formed from their linear analogues with identical molar mass and chemical composition. The translation of topology effects by cyclic polymers into the properties of polymer networks provides hydrogels that ideally do not include defects, such as dangling chain ends, and display unprecedented physicochemical characteristics.