Cross-linking induced thermo-responsive self-healable hydrogels with temperature regulated light emission property

Abstract

Self-healing hydrogels draw great attentions in past decade based on the self-healing property similar to living creatures and their potential application in bioscience. On the other hand, thermo-response of the hydrogel endow the hydrogel with smart characteristic for controlled drug loading and delivery, diagnosis, cell imaging, life simulation, etc. In this study, self-healable hydrogel with cross-linking induced thermo-response (CIT) property was prepared from TPE containing copolymer TPE-P(DMA-stat-DAA) and the LCST of the hydrogels could be regulated by copolymer composition and the structure of the cross-linkers. The light emission property, mechanical and self-healing performances of the hydrogels are also investigated intensively. The results showed the LCST of the hydrogels could beregulated to body temperature through cross-linking induced thermo-response (CIT) mechanism with PEO23 DNH cross-linking. At the same time, the hydrogels exhibit light emission property, excellent self-healing ability and good mechanical properties. Moreover, the hydrogels showed different light emission property regulated by temperature based on AIE property of the TPE.