Anion-Responsive Metallopolymer Hydrogels for Healthcare Applications

Abstract

Metallopolymers combine a processable, versatile organic polymeric skeleton with functional metals, providing multiple functions and methodologies in materials science. Taking advantage of cationic cobaltocenium as the key building block, organogels could be simply switched to hydrogels via a highly efficient ion exchange. With the unique ionic complexion ability, cobaltocenium moieties provide a robust soft substrate for recycling antibiotics from water. The essential polyelectrolyte nature offers the metallopolymer hydrogels to kill multidrug resistant bacteria. The multifunctional characteristics of these hydrogels highlight the potential for metallopolymers in the field of healthcare and environmental treatment.

Recent Advances in Metal‐Containing Polymer Hydrogels

“…They introduced the cationic cobaltocenium moiety into polymeric networks by free radical polymerization of cobaltocenium methacrylate with a PEG functionalized crosslinker. [23] These hydrogels easily absorbed β -lactam antibiotics because of the ability of cobaltocenium to bind anionic antibiotics, which can be applied to treat antibiotic-contaminated water. Moreover, these cationic hydrogels can inhibit the growth of different bacteria, including drug-resistant strains.…”

Polymerization‐induced self‐assembly of metallo‐polyelectrolyte block copolymers

“…) . After the synthesis, an anion exchange process was carried out to prepare cobaltocenium‐containing methacrylate polymers with chloride as the counterion . The polymerization was terminated at a relatively low conversion (e.g.,55%) to preserve chain‐end functionality.…”

“…Chain transfer agent 2‐cyano‐2‐propyl benzodithioate (97%, CPB) was purchased from Sigma‐Aldrich and used directly. Monomer 2‐cobaltocenium amidoethyl methacrylate hexafluorophosphate (CoAEMAPF 6 ) was synthesized by reacting cobaltocenium monocarboxylic acid with 2‐aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride in the presence of coupling agent N ‐(3‐(dimethylamino)propyl)‐ N ′‐ethylcarbodiimide (EDC) according to established methods . 2‐Aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride (90%), N ‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐ N′ ‐ethylcarbodi imide hydrochloride (EDC‐HCl, 98%), 4‐(dimethylamino)pyridine and tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBACl) were purchased from Sigma‐Aldrich and used as received.…”

Binding of Cobaltocenium-Containing Polyelectrolytes with Anionic Probes

“…51 2-Aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride (90%), N -(3-dimethylaminopropyl)- N ′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC-HCl, 98%), 4-(dimethylamino) pyridine and tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBACl) were purchased from Aldrich and used as received. Tris buffer solution was prepared from tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris base) (Sigma-Aldrich) and concentrated hydrochloric acid (Sigma-Aldrich).…”