Macroscopic Adhesion of Thermoreversible ABC Triblock Copolymer-Based Hydrogels Via Boronic Acid-Sugar Complexation

Abstract

Two complementary thermoreversible ABC triblock copolymers containing either phenylboronic acids with low pK_a values or galactosyl groups in the hydrophilic B blocks are synthesized by sequential reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and subsequent modification of the functional groups. Both ABC triblock copolymers undergo reversible sol-to-gel transitions upon temperature change and form physically cross-linked hydrogels under physiological conditions. Furthermore, the spontaneous adhesion of these thermoreversible hydrogels via the formation of boronic esters between the phenylboronic acid and galactosyl groups under physiological conditions is realized for the first time.

Keywords: adhesion; block copolymers; hydrogels; molecular recognition; self-assembly.