Post-fabrication reconfiguration of hydrogels through thermodynamic asymmetry in dynamic chemistry

Background:

Dynamic gels only reshuffle bonds. This work swaps hydrazone crosslinks for oximes after formation.

Methods:

HPLC and kinetic modeling probed exchange under varied pH and concentration. PEG-aldehyde gels were tested by rheology, FRAP, stress relaxation.

Results:

Exchange is near-quantitative and mainly hydrolytic; lower concentration gave faster exchange. Exchange gels matched direct oxime gels. Alkoxyamines diffused into preformed gels, tuning topology, stiffness, and viscoelasticity. Hydrazone gels relaxed fast; oxime gels relaxed slowly.

Disclaimer: This is only a science share, not advice.

#Hydrogel #DynamicCovalent #NatureComms #MaterialsScience