Physical and adhesion properties of supramolecular hydrogels cross-linked by movable cross-linking molecule and host-guest interactions

Abstract

A supramolecular hydrogel was prepared by the introduction of host-guest interactions between polyrotaxane (PRx) having guest parts and poly(acrylamide) with cyclodextrin hosts. Although the chemically cross-linked poly(acrylamide) hydrogels did not adhere to each other at the cut ends, the supramolecular hydrogels adhered to each other strongly even enduring their own weight. The recovery speed of rupture stress for the supramolecular hydrogels containing PRx was faster than that without PRx due to the movable cross-links.