title: Glucose-responsive hydrogels based on dynamic covalent chemistry and inclusion complexation.
abstract: A novel glucose-responsive hydrogel system based on dynamic covalent chemistry and inclusion complexation was described. Hydrogels are formed by simply mixing the solutions of three components: poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly vinyl alcohol (PEO-b-PVA) diblock polymer, α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) and phenylboronic acid (PBA)-terminated PEO crosslinker. Dynamic covalent bonds between PVA and PBA provide sugar-responsive crosslinking, and the inclusion complexation between PEO and α-CD can promote hydrogel formation and enhance hydrogel stability. The ratios of the three components have a remarkable effect on the gelation time and the mechanical properties of the final gels. In rheological measurements, the hydrogels are demonstrated to possess solid-like behaviour and good structural recovery ability after yielding. The sugar-responsiveness of the hydrogels was examined by protein loading and release experiments, and the results indicate that this property is also dependent on the compositions of the gels; at a proper component ratio, a new glucose-responsive hydrogel system operating at physiological pH can be obtained. The combination of good biocompatibility of the three components and the easy preparation of hydrogels with tunable glucose-responsiveness may enable an alternative design of hydrogel systems that finds potential applications in biomedical and pharmaceutical fields, such as treatment of diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry & Physics of Ministry of Education, Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China. zcli@pku.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Xin-Xing
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Fu-Sheng
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Zi-Chen
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001897:Boronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D002417:Cattle; D005947:Glucose / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012212:Rheology; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D047391:alpha-Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001897:Boronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers; D047391:alpha-Cyclodextrins; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D005947:Glucose; C010686:benzeneboronic acid; C032613:alpha-cyclodextrin