Biomimetic Strain-Stiffening Self-Assembled Hydrogels

Biomimetic Strain-Stiffening Self-Assembled Hydrogels

Wang, Yiming (East China University of Science and Technology)
Xu, Zhi (East China University of Science and Technology)
Lovrak, M. (TU Delft ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter)
le Sage, V.A.A. (TU Delft ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter)
Zhang, K. (TU Delft ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter)
Guo, Xuhong (East China University of Science and Technology)
Eelkema, R. (TU Delft ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter)
Mendes, E. (TU Delft ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter)
van Esch, J.H. (TU Delft ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter)

2020

Supramolecular structures with strain-stiffening properties are ubiquitous in nature but remain rare in the lab. Herein, we report on strain-stiffening supramolecular hydrogels that are entirely produced through the self-assembly of synthetic molecular gelators. The involved gelators self-assemble into semi-flexible fibers, which thereby crosslink into hydrogels. Interestingly, these hydrogels are capable of stiffening in response to applied stress, resembling biological intermediate filaments system. Furthermore, strain-stiffening hydrogel networks embedded with liposomes are constructed through orthogonal self-assembly of gelators and phospholipids, mimicking biological tissues in both architecture and mechanical properties. This work furthers the development of biomimetic soft materials with mechanical responsiveness and presents potentially enticing applications in diverse fields, such as tissue engineering, artificial life, and strain sensors.

gels
low-molecular-weight gelators
self-assembly
strain-stiffening
supramolecular chemistry

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:5b009ebb-a8ce-432a-a85a-89b6195c4f60

https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201911364

2021-01-07

1433-7851

Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), 59 (12), 4830-4834

Accepted Author Manuscript

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2020 Yiming Wang, Zhi Xu, M. Lovrak, V.A.A. le Sage, K. Zhang, Xuhong Guo, R. Eelkema, E. Mendes, J.H. van Esch