Bioinspired iron–catechol cross-links have shown
remarkable
success in increasing the mechanical properties of polymer networks,
in part due to clustering of Fe3+–catechol domains
which act as secondary network reinforcing sites. We report a versatile
synthetic procedure to prepare modular PEG-acrylate networks with
independently tunable covalent bis(acrylate) and supramolecular Fe3+–catechol cross-linking. Initial control of network
structure is achieved through radical polymerization and cross-linking,
followed by postpolymerization incorporation of catechol units via
quantitative active ester chemistry and subsequent complexation with
iron salts. By tuning the ratio of each building block, dual cross-linked
networks reinforced by clustered iron–catechol domains are
prepared and exhibit a wide range of properties (Young’s moduli
up to ∼245 MPa), well beyond the values achieved through purely
covalent cross-linking. This stepwise approach to mixed covalent and
metal–ligand cross-linked networks also permits local patterning
of PEG-based films through masking techniques forming distinct hard,
soft, and gradient regions.
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