Recognition-Mediated Hydrogel Swelling Controlled by Interaction with a Negative Thermoresponsive LCST Polymer
Résumé
Most polymeric thermoresponsive hydrogels contract upon heating beyond the lower critical solution temper-ature (LCST) of the polymers used. Herein, we report a supramolecular hydrogel system that shows the opposite temperature dependence. When the non-thermosesponsive hydrogel NaphtGel, containing dialkoxynaphthalene guest molecules,becomes complexed with the tetra cationic macro-cyclic host CBPQT4+, swelling occurred as a result of host–guest complex formation leading to charge repulsion between the host units,aswell as an osmotic contribution of chloride counter-ions embedded in the network. The immersion of NaphtGel in a solution of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) with tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) end groups complexed with CBPQT4+ induced positive thermoresponsive behaviour. The LCST-induced dethreading of the polymer-based pseudoro-taxane upon heating led to transfer of the CBPQT4+ host and a concomitant swelling of NaphtGel. Subsequent cooling led to reformation of the TTF-based host–guest complexes in solution and contraction of the hydrogel.
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