cm9b01301_si_001.pdf (1.73 MB)
Self-Healing Hydrogel with a Double Dynamic Network Comprising Imine and Borate Ester Linkages
journal contribution
posted on 2019-07-16, 00:00 authored by Yongsan Li, Lei Yang, Yuan Zeng, Yuwei Wu, Yen Wei, Lei TaoA self-healing hydrogel
enriched with properties from a double-dynamic
network (DDN) that has been prepared via two dynamic linkages (imine
and borate ester) by using a single polymeric cross-linker. The four-component
Ugi reaction was used for easily synthesizing multifunctional poly(ethylene
glycol) (MF-PEG) with a benzaldehyde group and phenylboronic acid
group at each end of the chain. This MF-PEG simultaneously cross-linked
with poly(vinyl alcohol) through the borate ester and glycol chitosan
via an imine to generate a self-healing hydrogel with a unique DDN
structure in seconds under mild conditions (pH ≈ 7, 25 °C).
The prepared hydrogel showed enhanced strength and mucoadhesive abilities
because of the complimentary interpenetrating dynamic networks. The
DDN hydrogel showed satisfying biocompatibility and was further used
in an in vivo mouse model. The hydrogel was injected to successfully
deliver an antitumor drug and achieved a superior performance compared
to traditional delivery methods. To the best of our knowledge, this
is the first report of using the Ugi reaction to prepare a DDN self-healing
hydrogel. We hereby propose a general strategy for the facile preparation
of self-healing materials with improved properties. The strategy also
opens a new avenue for synthesizing multifunctional/reinforced materials
with the combination of dynamic chemistry and multicomponent reactions.