pH Responsive Self-healing Hydrogels Formed by Boronate-Catechol Complexation
- Technology Benefits
- Multifunctional properties of the catechol and boronate Robust adhesion of polymer Self-healing pH-based Characteristics
- Detailed Technology Description
- A self-healing hydrogel based on the formation of a complex between catechol and a difunctional boronic acid. #materials #polymer #therapeutics #drugdelivery #biomedical
- *Abstract
-
Northwestern researchers have prepared cross-linked polymeric hydrogels through the complex formation of a branched catechol derivative of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with 1,3-benzenediboronic acid. This particular technology was inspired by previous studies of a catechol-containing polymer that mimics mussel adhesive proteins. The pH-responsiveness of the hydrogel has been fully characterized and demonstrates covalent gel behavior at alkaline pH and dissociation into a viscous liquid at neutral or acidic pH. This is the first report of a PEG hydrogel based on a complex containing a multifunctional catechol polymer and a bifunctional borate compound. The dynamic nature of the boronate ester linkages give rise to self-healing hydrogels exhibiting high stability at high pH and lower stability at low pH conditions.
- *Inventors
- Daniel E Fullenkamp Lihong He Phillip B Messersmith*
- *Publications
- Lihong He, Dominic E. Fullenkamp, José G. Rivera and Phillip B. Messersmith (2011) pH responsive self-healing hydrogels formed by boronate–catechol complexation. Chemical Communications. 47: 7497-7499.
- Country/Region
- USA
