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Toward a versatile toolbox for cucurbit[n]uril-based supramolecular hydrogel networks through in situ polymerization

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Tan, C 
Scherman, OA 

Abstract

The success of exploiting cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n] )-based molecular recognition in self-assembled systems has sparked a tremendous interest in polymer and materials chemistry. In this study, polymerization in the presence of host-guest complexes is applied as a modular synthetic approach toward a diverse set of CB[8]-based supramolecular hydrogels with desirable properties, such as mechanical strength, toughness, energy dissipation, self-healing, and shear-thinning. A range of vinyl monomers, including acrylamide-, acrylate-, and imidazolium-based hydrophilic monomers, could be easily incorporated as the polymer backbones, leading to a library of CB[8] hydrogel networks. This versatile strategy explores new horizons for the construction of supramolecular hydrogel networks and materials with emergent properties in wearable and self-healable electronic devices, sensors, and structural biomaterials.

Description

Keywords

cucurbit[n]uril, supramolecular hydrogel network, in situ polymerisation, self healing, toughness

Journal Title

Journal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0887-624X
1099-0518

Volume Title

55

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/G060649/1)
European Research Council (240629)
European Commission (607602)
This work was supported by the Marie Curie FP7 SASSYPOL ITN (607602) programme (to J.L.), Ministry of Education of Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia (to C.S.Y.T.), and EPRSC (EP/F0355351 and EP/G060649/1) and the ERC (ASPiRe, 240629) (to O.A.S.).