Sugar acids - the secret ingredient transforming hydrogels into elastic and stretchable materials

Le résumé fourni par la source

Presented study explores the modification of charged monomers through anion exchange to introduce sugar structures into polymers, enhancing their biological and physicochemical properties. The commercially available monomer 2-trimethylammonioethyl methacrylate chloride (TMAEMA/Cl) was subjected to a two-stage anion exchange, replacing chloride with lactobionate to yield TMAEMA/Lac. The resulting monomer was copolymerized via UV-initiated free-radical polymerization with hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), using N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker and water as a solvent due to solubility constraints. Swelling tests revealed that TMAEMA/Cl hydrogels exhibited significantly higher swelling ratios (up to 1180%) compared to TMAEMA/Lac (max 768%). Opacity in TMAEMA/Lac samples suggested microphase separation, supported by AFM and Raman spectroscopy, which identified hydrophobic (polymer backbone-rich) and hydrophilic (lactobionate-rich) domains. Rheological analysis demonstrated enhanced elasticity in TMAEMA/Lac hydrogels sustaining deformations up to 1000%. Thermal analysis revealed increased stability in lactobionate-based xerogels, with delayed decomposition (400–450°C) compared to TMAEMA/Cl. DSC indicated reduced glass transition temperatures (T g ) in lactobionate hydrogels, suggesting sugar-induced plasticization. Denser, less porous morphologies in TMAEMA/Lac hydrogels, correlating with lower swelling, were confirmed by means of SEM. These findings highlight the role of lactobionate in inducing polymerization-induced microphase separation (PIMS), altering mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties. The study provides a facile method to tailor hydrogel properties through sugar-based anion exchange, with potential applications in biomaterials and soft materials engineering.

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