Abstract
We prepared new and scalable, hybrid inorganic-organic step-growth hydrogels with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) network knot construction elements and hydrolytically degradable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) di-ester macromonomers by in situ radical-mediated thiol-ene photopolymerization. The physicochemical properties of the gels are fine-tailored over orders of magnitude including functionalization of their interior, a hierarchical gel structure, and biodegradability.
Highlights
A simple approach to hybrid inorganic–organic step-growth hydrogels with scalable control of physicochemical properties and biodegradability†
The search for rationally controlling the derivation of hydrogels with improved performance led to a shift in the preparation strategy from free radicalpolymerization to step-growth approaches.[2]
Though a wide set of chemistries have been suggested to this end, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is used in majority as one key starting precursor due to its well-recognized biocompatibility.[3]
Summary
A simple approach to hybrid inorganic–organic step-growth hydrogels with scalable control of physicochemical properties and biodegradability†. This is surprising since vinyl functional POSS undergoes an exclusive radical mediated step-growth reaction with thiols.[7] we introduce the facile preparation and characterization of a novel set of hybrid inorganic–organic hydrogels that utilize vinylPOSS and homotelechelic thiol PEG di-ester macromonomers (ESI†) as precursors for the creation of (functional) 3D networks by step-growth thiol–ene photopolymerization.
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