Double-Network Organohydrogels Toughened by Solvent Exchange

Double-network hydrogels based on calcium alginate are extensively exploited. Unfortunately, their low strength and unstable constitution to open environments limit their application potential. Herein, a new type of double-network organohydrogel (OHG) is proposed. By solvent exchange, a stable physical network is established based on dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-alginate in the presence of a polyacrylamide network. The DMSO content endows tunable mechanical properties, with a maximum tensile strength of approximate to 1.7 MPa. Importantly, the OHG shows much better environmental stability compared to the conventional double-network hydrogels. Due to the reversible association of hydrogen bonds, the OHG possesses some unique properties, including free-shapeability, shape-memory, and self-adhesion, that offers several promising ways to utilize alginate-based gels for wide applications. An innovative alginate-based double-network organohydrogel from polymers forming dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-alginate-based hydrogen bonding and covalent bonding crosslinked networks is proposed and established by solvent exchange. This gel shows enhanced mechanical properties and better environmental stability compared to conventional double-network hydrogels based on calcium alginate, which improves the potential application of alginate-based gels.image