Self‐Assembling Supramolecular Hybrid Hydrogel Beads

Abstract

With the goal of imposing shape and structure on supramolecular gels, we combine a low‐molecular‐weight gelator (LMWG) with the polymer gelator (PG) calcium alginate in a hybrid hydrogel. By imposing thermal and temporal control of the orthogonal gelation methods, the system either forms an extended interpenetrating network or core–shell‐structured gel beads—a rare example of a supramolecular gel formulated inside discrete gel spheres. The self‐assembled LMWG retains its unique properties within the beads, such as remediating PdII and reducing it in situ to yield catalytically active Pd0 nanoparticles. A single PdNP‐loaded gel bead can catalyse the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction, constituting a simple and easy‐to‐use reaction‐dosing form. These uniquely shaped and structured LMWG‐filled gel beads are a versatile platform technology with great potential in a range of applications.

Protein-responsive protein release of supramolecular/polymer hydrogel composite integrating enzyme activation systems

“…Composite materials for supramolecular and polymer hydrogels have recently been proposed to overcome the mechanical weakness of supramolecular hydrogels (Fig. 3a ) 31 – 64 . It was expected that the supramolecular fibers and the polymer network would play distinct roles, that is protein entrapment and stimulus responsiveness will be a result of the supramolecular fibers and mechanical stiffness will be imparted by the polymer network.…”

New Developments in Medical Applications of Hybrid Hydrogels Containing Natural Polymers

“…A biocompatible and biodegradable heteropolysaccharide that forms hydrogels by mixing with multivalent cations is the alginic acid [182,183]. Spherical core-shell gel-bead structures (or worms) were obtained by combining alginic acid with 1,3,2,4-di-(4-acylhydrazide)-benzylidenesorbitol (DBS-CONHNH 2 ) [184]. The gels based on alginic acid proved to have important applications in domains like drug delivery and tissue engineering [185].…”

“…Supramolecular hybrid hydrogels self-assembled were obtained from low-molecular-weight gelator (LMWG, which are small organic molecules which self-assemble in water or organic solvents, forming a 3D network that entraps the liquid phase resulting in gel formation) building blocks with the polymer gelator (PG) (e.g., calcium alginate) [184]. This type of hydrogel can be used in regenerative medicine [194], in controlled drug delivery [195], or in electronics devices as patterned conducting gels where they contact interface with living media.…”

Facile synthesis of alginate‐based calcium tungstate composite: A thermally stable blue emitting phosphor

“…1 Alginate, as a natural biomaterial originated from brown algae or bacteria, is a fascinating anionic polysaccharide, which is considered to be nontoxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible. 2,3 It is a family of linear copolymers containing β-D-mannuronate (M) and α-L-guluronate (G) residues in varying ratios of MM, GG, and MG blocks. Alginate is susceptible to dissolve in water and can form insoluble hydrogels when combined with ionic crosslinking agents such as divalent cations (i.e., Ca 2+ ), by generating junction bridges within the G blocks of adjacent polymer chains.…”