Photoresponsive pseudopolyrotaxane hydrogels based on competition of host-guest interactions

Abstract

Competitive advantage: The reversible assembly and disassembly of a polyethylene glycol (PEG)/α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) pseudopolyrotaxane (PPR) hydrogel is achieved (see picture). In a ternary system with a photoresponsive azobenzene compound, alternating UV and visible irradiation cause reversible sol-gel transitions. Thus the widely studied PEG/α- CD PPR hydrogel is proved to be " active " is supramolecular chemistry. (Figure Presented) © 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinhelm.