Mesoscale Characterization of Supramolecular Transient Networks Using SAXS and Rheology

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

A. C. H. Pape¹  Maartje M. C. Bastings¹  Roxanne E. Kieltyka¹  Hans M. Wyss¹  Ilja K. Voets¹  E. W. Meijer¹ 

[1] Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands; E-Mails:

关键词: supramolecular polymers;    rheology;    hydrogels;    small-angle X-ray scattering;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms15011096

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Hydrogels and, in particular, supramolecular hydrogels show promising properties for application in regenerative medicine because of their ability to adapt to the natural environment these materials are brought into. However, only few studies focus on the structure-property relationships in supramolecular hydrogels. Here, we study in detail both the structure and the mechanical properties of such a network, composed of poly(ethylene glycol), end-functionalized with ureido-pyrimidinone fourfold hydrogen bonding units. This network is responsive to triggers such as concentration, temperature and pH. To obtain more insight into the sol-gel transition of the system, both rheology and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) are used. We show that the sol-gel transitions based on these three triggers, as measured by rheology, coincide with the appearance of a structural feature in SAXS. We attribute this feature to the presence of hydrophobic domains where cross-links are formed. These results provide more insight into the mechanism of network formation in these materials, which can be exploited for tailoring their behavior for biomedical applications, where one of the triggers discussed might be used.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland