Polydopamine Particles Reinforced Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogel with NIR Light Triggered Shape Memory and Self-Healing Capability.

Abstract

This study focuses on developing a facile approach to prepare biocompatible poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite hydrogels containing polydopamine particles (PDAPs) with ultrafast near-infrared (NIR) light-triggered shape memory and self-healing capability. The PVA-PDAPs composite hydrogels with excellent mechanical properties can be achieved after freezing/thawing treatment, and the formation of physically cross-linked networks from the hydrogen bonding (H-bonding) between PVA and PDAPs. Due to the excellent photothermal effect of polydopamine, the composited hydrogel can achieve rapid shape recovery and efficient self-healing properties under NIR light exposure in a short time. With the excellent shape memory performance, good biocompatibility, and self-healing property, this hydrogel should have great potential in biomedical fields such as tissue engineering, arthrodial cartilage, and artificial skin.