title: Controlling mechanical properties of bio-inspired hydrogels by modulating nano-scale, inter-polymeric junctions.
abstract: Quinone tanning is a well-characterized biochemical process found in invertebrates, which produce diverse materials from extremely hard tissues to soft water-resistant adhesives. Herein, we report new types of catecholamine PEG derivatives, PEG-NH-catechols that can utilize an expanded spectrum of catecholamine chemistry. The PEGs enable simultaneous participation of amine and catechol in quinone tanning crosslinking. The intermolecular reaction between PEG-NH-catechols forms a dramatic nano-scale junction resulting in enhancement of gelation kinetics and mechanical properties of PEG hydrogels compared to results obtained by using PEGs in the absence of amine groups. Therefore, the study provides new insight into designing new crosslinking chemistry for controlling nano-scale chemical reactions that can broaden unique properties of bulk hydrogels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Center for Nature-inspired Technology in KI NanoCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291, University Rd, Daejeon 305-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seonki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-750, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyukjin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Center for Nature-inspired Technology in KI NanoCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291, University Rd, Daejeon 305-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Haeshin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: catechols; hydrogels; poly(ethylene glycol)s; quinone tanning