Abstract
This chapter reviews the preparation, structures, properties, and applications of tough and responsive hydrogels crosslinked by triblock copolymer micelles. An amphiphilic triblock copolymer, Pluronic F127, is functionalized with reactive groups. The functional F127 chains form polyfunctional micelles in aqueous solution, which are used for reaction with hydrophilic monomers or polymer chains to form hydrophobically crosslinked network. Free radical polymerization, host-guest interaction, and dynamic bonds have been utilized to connect the polymer chains with the reactive micelle coronae. The obtained polymer hydrogels show outstanding strength and toughness, with the micelles serving as energy dissipation centers. The structural evolution and energy dissipation mechanisms have been investigated in detail. By incorporating functional monomers into the network, a series of functional hydrogels responsive to pH, salt, electric field, and temperature have been developed. The hydrogels have been utilized as building blocks to fabricate soft actuators, shape-morphing devices, and biomaterials for tissue repair.
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