Extremely stretchable thermosensitive hydrogels by introducing slide-ring polyrotaxane cross-linkers and ionic groups into the polymer network

Abu Bin Imran; Kenta Esaki; Hiroaki Gotoh; Takahiro Seki; Kohzo Ito; Yasuhiro Sakai; Yukikazu Takeoka

doi:10.1038/ncomms6124

journal article Open Access Oct 08, 2014

Extremely stretchable thermosensitive hydrogels by introducing slide-ring polyrotaxane cross-linkers and ionic groups into the polymer network

Abu Bin Imran Kenta Esaki Hiroaki Gotoh

Takahiro Seki Kohzo Ito Yasuhiro Sakai

Yukikazu Takeoka

Nature Communications Vol. 5 No. 1 · Springer Science and Business Media LLC

View at Publisher Save 10.1038/ncomms6124

Abstract

AbstractStimuli-sensitive hydrogels changing their volumes and shapes in response to various stimulations have potential applications in multiple fields. However, these hydrogels have not yet been commercialized due to some problems that need to be overcome. One of the most significant problems is that conventional stimuli-sensitive hydrogels are usually brittle. Here we prepare extremely stretchable thermosensitive hydrogels with good toughness by using polyrotaxane derivatives composed of α-cyclodextrin and polyethylene glycol as cross-linkers and introducing ionic groups into the polymer network. The ionic groups help the polyrotaxane cross-linkers to become well extended in the polymer network. The resulting hydrogels are surprisingly stretchable and tough because the cross-linked α-cyclodextrin molecules can move along the polyethylene glycol chains. In addition, the polyrotaxane cross-linkers can be used with a variety of vinyl monomers; the mechanical properties of the wide variety of polymer gels can be improved by using these cross-linkers.

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Details

Published: Oct 08, 2014
Vol/Issue: 5(1)
License: View

Authors

Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Nobels väg 16, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden.

Department of Joint Research Laboratory of Clinical Medicine, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi 470-1192, Japan

Y

Yukikazu Takeoka

Cite This Article

Abu Bin Imran, Kenta Esaki, Hiroaki Gotoh, et al. (2014). Extremely stretchable thermosensitive hydrogels by introducing slide-ring polyrotaxane cross-linkers and ionic groups into the polymer network. Nature Communications, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms6124

Extremely stretchable thermosensitive hydrogels by introducing slide-ring polyrotaxane cross-linkers and ionic groups into the polymer network

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