Synthesis of Double Network Hydrogels with Metal Ligand Cross-linker Based On Gelatin

Double network hydrogels (DN) with self-repairing properties are used in medical studies including tissueengineering due to their enhance mechanical properties and resistance against the external damage. DNhydrogels with physical cross-linkers has more advantages over DN hydrogels with chemical cross-linkersbecause of reversible and dynamic bonds which improves mechanical and self-repairing properties. Herein,DN hydrogels based on gelatin and AMPS-co-DMAEMA copolymer network with excellent mechanicalproperties were obtained by using the advantages of hydrogen bonding and metal-ligan interactions. The resultsshow that the self-repairing properties of the synthesized hydrogel has been achieved by non-covalent dynamicbehavior of hydrogen bonding and metal-ligand interactions. Moreover, SEM images of bare hydrogels (semi-IPN) and hydrogels containing iron (IPN) demonstrate the decrease of hydrogel pore size in the presence ofiron and consequently, changes in its mechanical properties as well as water absorption amounts, whichenhance the stability of hydrogels in water at different immersion times.

Keywords:

Hydrogel , Double network polymer , Metal ligand