title: Poly(2-oxazoline) hydrogel monoliths via thiol-ene coupling.
abstract: Copoly(2-oxazoline)s, prepared by the cationic ring-opening polymerization of 2-(dec-9-enyl)-2-oxazoline with either 2-methyl-2-oxazoline or 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline, are crosslinked with small dithiol molecules under UV irradiation to form homogeneous networks. In situ monitoring of the crosslinking reaction by photo-rheology reveals the formation of soft gels within minutes. The degree of swelling in water is tunable based on the hydrophilicity of the starting macromers and the proportion of alkene side arms present. Furthermore, degradable hydrogels are prepared based on incorporation of a hydrolytically cleavable dithiol crosslinker. The rapid synthesis of the macromers and mild crosslinking conditions make these materials ideal for future biomaterial applications.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia. t.dargaville@qut.edu.au
authors.forename: Tim R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Dargaville
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Forster
authors.forename: Brooke L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Farrugia
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kempe
authors.forename: Lenny
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Voorhaar
authors.forename: Ulrich S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoogenboom
mesh_terms: D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D008872:Microwaves; D010080:Oxazoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C561519:2-methyl-2-oxazoline; D010080:Oxazoles; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C577913:poly(2-oxazoline); D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; C552862:2-ethyl-2-oxazoline