Work

Boronic Ester Cross-Linked Star Polyoxazoline Hydrogels with Self-Healing and Stimuli-Responsive Behavior

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Self-healing and stimuli-responsive hydrogels are highly desirable in biomedicine. A promising strategy to achieve these properties is dynamic covalent cross-linking via boronic ester bonds between boronic acids and diols. However, most hydrogels using this mechanism are unstable under physiological conditions, which limits their biomedical applicability. Here, we present the synthesis and application of a star-shaped poly(2-methyloxazoline) functionalized with boronic acid derivatives, designed to form stable hydrogels in the presence of poly(vinyl alcohol) under physiological conditions. By tuning the overall polymer content, boronic acid/diol molar ratio, and molecular weight, hydrogel stiffness could be precisely adjusted. The resulting hydrogels exhibited rapid self-healing, high stretchability, injectability, and responsiveness to the pH value and glucose levels, as demonstrated by insulin release studies. Cytotoxicity and cell encapsulation experiments confirmed the cytocompatibility of the polymer and hydrogels.

Source: Biomacromolecules

DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.5c01466

Authors: Sophia Loeffelsend, Juergen Groll

Institution: University of Würzburg

Language: English

Topic: Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications

Subfield: Molecular Medicine

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500

Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft