Melt‐Processable and Electrospinnable Shape‐Memory Hydrogels

Abstract Due to their ability to adapt to subtle changes in response to various external and internal stimuli, smart hydrogels have become increasingly popular in research and industry. However, many currently available hydrogels suffer from poor processability and inferior mechanical properties. Fo...

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Main Authors: Turdimuhammad Abdullah, Cagatay Altınkok, Oguz Okay
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2024-12-01
Series:Macromolecular Materials and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.202400166
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author Turdimuhammad Abdullah
Cagatay Altınkok
Oguz Okay
author_facet Turdimuhammad Abdullah
Cagatay Altınkok
Oguz Okay
author_sort Turdimuhammad Abdullah
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Due to their ability to adapt to subtle changes in response to various external and internal stimuli, smart hydrogels have become increasingly popular in research and industry. However, many currently available hydrogels suffer from poor processability and inferior mechanical properties. For example, the preparation of a hydrogel network that can be subjected to melt processing and electrospinning is challenging. Herein, a series of mechanically strong, shape‐memory hydrogels based on polyacrylic acid (PAAc) chains containing 20–50 mol% of crystallizable n‐octadecylacrylate (C18A) segments are prepared by an organosolv method followed by in situ physical cross‐linking via hydrophobic interactions. The hydrogels exhibit a reversible strong to weak gel transition at 50–60 °C and can be melt‐processed at 60–100 °C, depending on the molar fraction of C18A. Additionally, the hydrogels can be dissolved in chloroform/ethanol mixture to form a viscous solution, which can then be used to produce a nanofibrous network by electrospinning. Effects of polymer concentration, volume ratio of solvents, and mole fraction of C18A on electrospinning are investigated to produce smooth, uniform nanofibers with small fiber diameter. The produced nanofibers, while maintaining their chemical structure, show significantly improved water adsorption capacity, enhanced mechanical properties, and fast shape‐memory performance.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 1438-7492
1439-2054
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
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record_format Article
series Macromolecular Materials and Engineering
spelling doaj-art-e34c3abf946c4417b14f44af605ec6302024-12-17T01:22:03ZengWiley-VCHMacromolecular Materials and Engineering1438-74921439-20542024-12-0130912n/an/a10.1002/mame.202400166Melt‐Processable and Electrospinnable Shape‐Memory HydrogelsTurdimuhammad Abdullah0Cagatay Altınkok1Oguz Okay2Department of Chemistry Istanbul Technical University Maslak Istanbul 34469 TurkeyDepartment of Chemistry Istanbul Technical University Maslak Istanbul 34469 TurkeyDepartment of Chemistry Istanbul Technical University Maslak Istanbul 34469 TurkeyAbstract Due to their ability to adapt to subtle changes in response to various external and internal stimuli, smart hydrogels have become increasingly popular in research and industry. However, many currently available hydrogels suffer from poor processability and inferior mechanical properties. For example, the preparation of a hydrogel network that can be subjected to melt processing and electrospinning is challenging. Herein, a series of mechanically strong, shape‐memory hydrogels based on polyacrylic acid (PAAc) chains containing 20–50 mol% of crystallizable n‐octadecylacrylate (C18A) segments are prepared by an organosolv method followed by in situ physical cross‐linking via hydrophobic interactions. The hydrogels exhibit a reversible strong to weak gel transition at 50–60 °C and can be melt‐processed at 60–100 °C, depending on the molar fraction of C18A. Additionally, the hydrogels can be dissolved in chloroform/ethanol mixture to form a viscous solution, which can then be used to produce a nanofibrous network by electrospinning. Effects of polymer concentration, volume ratio of solvents, and mole fraction of C18A on electrospinning are investigated to produce smooth, uniform nanofibers with small fiber diameter. The produced nanofibers, while maintaining their chemical structure, show significantly improved water adsorption capacity, enhanced mechanical properties, and fast shape‐memory performance.https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.202400166electrospinninghydrophobic interactionmelt‐processabilitypolyacrylic acidshape‐memory hydrogels
spellingShingle Turdimuhammad Abdullah
Cagatay Altınkok
Oguz Okay
Melt‐Processable and Electrospinnable Shape‐Memory Hydrogels
Macromolecular Materials and Engineering
electrospinning
hydrophobic interaction
melt‐processability
polyacrylic acid
shape‐memory hydrogels
title Melt‐Processable and Electrospinnable Shape‐Memory Hydrogels
title_full Melt‐Processable and Electrospinnable Shape‐Memory Hydrogels
title_fullStr Melt‐Processable and Electrospinnable Shape‐Memory Hydrogels
title_full_unstemmed Melt‐Processable and Electrospinnable Shape‐Memory Hydrogels
title_short Melt‐Processable and Electrospinnable Shape‐Memory Hydrogels
title_sort melt processable and electrospinnable shape memory hydrogels
topic electrospinning
hydrophobic interaction
melt‐processability
polyacrylic acid
shape‐memory hydrogels
url https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.202400166
work_keys_str_mv AT turdimuhammadabdullah meltprocessableandelectrospinnableshapememoryhydrogels
AT cagatayaltınkok meltprocessableandelectrospinnableshapememoryhydrogels
AT oguzokay meltprocessableandelectrospinnableshapememoryhydrogels