Tough Physical Double-Network Hydrogels Based on Amphiphilic Triblock Copolymers

Hui Jie Zhang; Tao Lin Sun; Ao Kai Zhang; Yumihiko Ikura; Tasuku Nakajima; Takayuki Nonoyama; Takayuki Kurokawa; Osamu Ito; Hiroyuki Ishitobi; Jian Ping Gong

doi:10.1002/adma.201600466

Tough Physical Double-Network Hydrogels Based on Amphiphilic Triblock Copolymers

Adv Mater. 2016 Jun;28(24):4884-90. doi: 10.1002/adma.201600466. Epub 2016 Apr 27.

Authors

Hui Jie Zhang¹, Tao Lin Sun^{2

3}, Ao Kai Zhang¹, Yumihiko Ikura², Tasuku Nakajima^{2

3}, Takayuki Nonoyama^{2

3}, Takayuki Kurokawa^{2

3}, Osamu Ito⁴, Hiroyuki Ishitobi⁴, Jian Ping Gong^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan.
² Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan.
³ Global Station for Soft Matter, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan.
⁴ Otsuka Chemical Co. Ltd, Osaka, 540-0021, Japan.

PMID: 27117393
DOI: 10.1002/adma.201600466

Abstract

A series of physical double-network hydrogels is synthesized based on an amphiphilic triblock copolymer. The gel, which contains strong hydrophobic domains and sacrificial dynamic bonds of hydrogen bonds, is stiff and tough, and even stiffens in concentrated saline solution. Furthermore, due to its supramolecular structure, the gel features improved self-healing and self-recovery abilities.

Keywords: amphiphilic triblock copolymers; double network; fatigue resistance; sacrificial bonds; tough hydrogels.