Self-healable macro-/microscopic shape memory hydrogels based on supramolecular interactions

Chem Commun (Camb). 2014 Oct 21;50(82):12277-80. doi: 10.1039/c4cc04760e.

Abstract

A simple strategy is provided to construct novel supramolecular hydrogels with both self-healing and shape memory properties. Starting from achieving self-healable hydrogel based on the dynamic interactions of phenylboronic acid modified sodium alginate (Alg-PBA) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), further formation of a complex of alginate with Ca(2+) renders this hydrogel with the capability of shape memory at the macro-/microscopic scales.