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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)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/F035535/1)
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.).