Boronic ester-based self-healing hydrogels formed by using intermolecular B-N coordination. (12th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Yusheng; Liu, Yigang; Wang, Qiuxia; Han, Yugui; Tan, Yebang
• Is Part Of: Polymer. Volume 202(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-08-12
• Subjects: Hydrogel -- Water soluble polymer -- Self-healing -- Rheological behaviour -- Biocompatibility; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2020.122624
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3861

Abstract

Abstract: The copolymer poly(acrylamide- co -2-acrylamido glucose) (PA) and poly(acrylamide- co - N -acryloyl-3-aminophenylboronic acid- co - N -(3-dimethylaminopropyl) acrylamide) (PB) were separately prepared by radical polymerization, and the hydrogel was readily constructed by simple mixing the two kinds of copolymers. The amine-containing monomer, N -(3-dimethylaminopropyl) acrylamide was incorporated into the polymer chain to enhance the stability of the complex between boronic acid and glucose units under physiological condition. The mechanical properties of the hydrogel can be readily engineered by adjusting the pH, solid content, and [phenylboronic acid]/[glucose] ratios. Moreover, the hydrogel possesses excellent intrinsic self-healing ability. Benefitting from the reversible property of the boronic ester, the hydrogel can be dissociated by adding competitive sugar molecules, which makes it easy to remove from medical gauze or skin. Additionally, cell cytotoxicity studies revealed that the hydrogel has good biocompatibility. With its superior properties, this dynamic phenylboronic ester-based hydrogel has great potential to be a component of new generation of wound dressings. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: New polymer architecture is designed to regulate pH dependence of gel formation. Hydrogels based on dynamic covalent bonds show significant self-healing properties. pH and polymer content/ratio are varied to control their mechanical properties. They show low cytotoxicity to both cancer and normal cells. They are readily dissolved by fructose, making it easy to removeable for wound dressings.