Dual Stimuli-Responsive Supramolecular Hydrogel Based on Hybrid Inclusion Complex (HIC)
作者：Jianghua Liu, Guosong Chen,* Mingyu Guo, and Ming Jiang*
關鍵字：Supramolecular Hydrogel
論文來源：期刊
具體來源：Macromolecules 2010, 43, 8086–8093
發表時間：2010年
A novel dual-responsive supramolecular hydrogel composed of an azobenzene (AZO) endfunctionalized block copolymer PDMA-b-PNIPAM (AZO-(PDMA-b-PNIPAM)) and β-cyclodextrin-modified CdS quantum dot (β-CD@QD) has been demonstrated. Based on the host-guest inclusion complexation of AZO of the block copolymers and CD cavities on β-CD@QD, they form a hybrid inclusion complex (HIC). The HIC contains a QD as the core and the block copolymer as the shell with the PNIPAM block as the outer layer. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and UV-vis spectroscopy investigation proved the HIC structure in diluted solution. Hydrogel formed easily upon heating the aqueous solution of HIC at a
concentration as low as 7wt%; as a result of PNIPAM, aggregation occurred above the LCST. The inclusion complex and the domains of the collapsed PNIPAM chains serve as two distinct cross-links and render the hydrogel excellent dual sensitivity to competitive hosts/guests substitution and to temperature variation. Furthermore, rheology results quantitatively exhibit the hydrogel formation mechanism and the sol-to-gel reversibility following the two external stimuli.