Recognition‐Mediated Hydrogel Swelling Controlled by Interaction with a Negative Thermoresponsive LCST Polymer

• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201605630
• Publication Date: 2016-10-13T18:00:16Z
• Authors: Khaled Belal; François Stoffelbach; Joël Lyskawa; Matthieu Fumagalli; Dominique Hourdet; Alba Marcellan; Lieselot De Smet; Victor R. de la Rosa; Graeme Cooke; Richard Hoogenboom; Patrice Woisel
• Keywords: Cationic polymerization

Abstract Most polymeric thermoresponsive hydrogels contract upon heating beyond the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of polymers used. Herein, we report a supramolecular hydrogel system that shows opposite dependence. When non‐thermosesponsive NaphtGel, containing dialkoxynaphthalene guest molecules, becomes complexed with tetra cationic macrocyclic host CBPQT 4+ , swelling occurred as result host–guest complex formation leading to charge repulsion between units, well an osmotic contribution chloride counter‐ions embedded in network. The immersion NaphtGel poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) end groups induced positive behaviour. LCST‐induced dethreading polymer‐based pseudorotaxane led transfer and concomitant NaphtGel. Subsequent cooling reformation TTF‐based complexes contraction hydrogel.