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 () and Yukikazu Takeoka ()
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Abu Bin Imran: Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University
Kenta Esaki: Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University
Hiroaki Gotoh: Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University
Takahiro Seki: Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University
Kohzo Ito: Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo
Yasuhiro Sakai: Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo
Yukikazu Takeoka: Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Stimuli-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.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6124

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