A Rapidly Self‐Healing Host–Guest Supramolecular Hydrogel with High Mechanical Strength and Excellent Biocompatibility |
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| Authors: | Dr Ye Zhu Dr Lijing Hao Dr Yunhua Chen Prof?Dr Geng An Prof?Dr Hongkai Wu Prof?Dr Xuetao Shi Prof?Dr Chuanbin Mao |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA;2. National Engineering Research Centre for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction and School of Material Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China;3. Department of Reproductive Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China;4. Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, Kowloon, China;5. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China |
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| 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. |
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| Keywords: | biocompatibility host– guest systems mechanical strength self-healing supramolecular hydrogels |
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