Supramolecular hydrogels with multi-cylindrical lamellar bilayers: Swelling-induced contraction and anisotropic molecular diffusion

Publication date: 16 October 2017
Source:Polymer, Volume 128
Author(s): Kei Mito, Md. Anamul Haque, Tasuku Nakajima, Maki Uchiumi, Takayuki Kurokawa, Takayuki Nonoyama, Jian Ping Gong
Novel, supramolecular, anisotropic hydrogels (called MC-PDGI gels) are presented in this study. These MC-PDGI gels consist of multi-cylindrical lipid bilayers aligned in a uniaxial manner and embedded in a soft hydrogel matrix. The bilayers and the hydrogel interact weakly due to hydrogen bonding. These MC-PDGI gels swell after exposure to water, which causes their volume and diameter to increase while simultaneously causing their length to decrease. This anisotropic swelling-induced contraction behavior is the result of competition between the isotropic elasticity of the hydrogel matrix and the interfacial tension of the lipid bilayers. Moreover, the MC-PDGI gels exhibit unique quasi one-dimensional diffusion behavior owing to the difficulty of molecular penetration through the multi-layered lipid bilayers. These materials would be useful for prolonged drug release or as an actuator.

Graphical abstract

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