open access

https://hdl.handle.net/2115/79286

Polyelectrolyte Complexation via Viscoelastic Phase Separation Results in Tough and Self-Recovering Porous Hydrogels

英語

2019-09-21

Royal Society of Chemistry

Journal of materials chemistry. B, Materials for biology and medicine

7(35)

5296-5305

Polyelectrolyte complexation between oppositely charged polyelectrolytes forms coacervates in dilute solutions and thin films in concentrated solutions. It is difficult to obtain macroscopically uniform bulk polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) materials, since the two polymers form insoluble complexes quickly at the contact interface during mixing, resulting in heterogeneous aggregates. Here, we succedded in preparing bulk PEC materials based on desalting-induced polyelectrolyte complexation via viscolestic phase seperation. With a high ionic strength aquetious medium, a homogeneous and concentrated solution containing oppositely charged polyelectrolytes is prepared. Desalting of the counter-ions and co-ions of the solution through semi-permeable membranes induces viscoelastic phase separation of the solution to form a physical hydrogel with open pore structrue. Regulating the charge ratio of the two oppositely charged polymers results in significant changes in the porous morphology and mechanical properties. The charge-balanced PEC hydrogels show unique properties including high toughness and self-recovery due to the reversible ionic associations. The porous yet tough properties of bulk PEC hydrogels makes them potential candidates for applications such as cell scaffolds.

学術雑誌論文

Accepted Manuscript

2050-750X

2050-7518

AA11114073