Self-assembled polyrotaxane hydrogels based on dynamic disulfide bonds

We have developed novel hydrogels with remarkable toughness and stretchability through the threading and host-guest interactions between thiolated α-cyclodextrins (SHαCD) and poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) (PhD project of Xiang Xu). The formation of disulfide bridges between SHαCD threaded on different chains leads to the formation of a network. Properties can be improved with the addition of thiols as PEG end groups, preventing the unthreading of SHαCD from the chains. The design of these gels, with crosslinks able to slide and rotate, and disulfide bonds, which present a range of attractive properties, from in vivo degradation, to mucoadhesion, or cell permeation enhancement, make these gels excellent candidates for biomedical applications. We request rapid access to enable timely publication and because access through the direct route will result in beamtime too close to the end of Xiang’s PhD.