Crosslinker-Induced Effects on the Gelation Pathway of a Low Molecular Weight Hydrogel

Willem E M Noteborn; Damy N H Zwagerman; Victorio Saez Talens; Chandan Maity; Lars van der Mee; Jos M Poolman; Serhii Mytnyk; Jan H van Esch; Alexander Kros; Rienk Eelkema; Roxanne E Kieltyka

doi:10.1002/adma.201603769

Crosslinker-Induced Effects on the Gelation Pathway of a Low Molecular Weight Hydrogel

Adv Mater. 2017 Mar;29(12). doi: 10.1002/adma.201603769. Epub 2017 Jan 24.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300, RA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
² Advanced Soft Matter Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629, HZ, Delft, The Netherlands.

PMID: 28117500
DOI: 10.1002/adma.201603769

Abstract

The use of polymeric crosslinkers is an attractive method to modify the mechanical properties of supramolecular materials, but their effects on the self-assembly of the underlying supramolecular polymer networks are poorly understood. Modulation of the gelation pathway of a reaction-coupled low molecular weight hydrogelator is demonstrated using (bio)polymeric crosslinkers of disparate physicochemical identities, providing a handle for control over materials properties.

Keywords: crosslinkers; hydrogels; microstructures; self-assembly; supramolecular materials.