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Tunable temperature‐ and shear‐responsive hydrogels based on poly(alkyl glycidyl ether)s
Author(s) -
Fellin Christopher R,
Adelmund Steven M,
Karis Dylan G,
Shafranek Ryan T,
Ono Robert J,
Martin Cecilia G,
Johnston Trevor G,
DeForest Cole A,
Nelson Alshakim
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.5716
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , materials science , copolymer , shear thinning , polymer , chemical engineering , alkyl , rheology , polymer chemistry , ethylene oxide , ethylene glycol , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
We describe the synthesis, characterization and direct‐write 3D printing of triblock copolymer hydrogels that have a tunable response to temperature and shear stress. In aqueous solutions, these polymers utilize the temperature‐dependent self‐association of poly(alkyl glycidyl ether) ‘A’ blocks and a central poly(ethylene oxide) segment to create a physically crosslinked three‐dimensional network. The temperature response of these hydrogels was dependent upon composition, chain length and concentration of the ‘A’ block in the copolymer. Rheological experiments confirmed the existence of sol–gel transitions and the shear‐thinning behavior of the hydrogels. The temperature‐ and shear‐responsive properties enabled direct‐write 3D printing of complex objects with high fidelity. Hydrogel cytocompatibility was also confirmed by incorporating HeLa cells into select hydrogels resulting in high viabilities over 24 h. The tunable temperature response and innate shear‐thinning properties of these hydrogels, coupled with encouraging cell viability results, present an attractive opportunity for additive manufacturing and tissue engineering applications. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry