Article

Mechanical training drives structural remodeling of zwitterionic hydrogels

Jiating LiuHunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Fiber Functional Materials, School of Packaging Materials and Engineering, Zuzhou 412007, P.R. ChinaJin ChenInstitute for Clinical Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan 570311, P.R. ChinaSimin LiuHunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Fiber Functional Materials, School of Packaging Materials and Engineering, Zuzhou 412007, P.R. ChinaTao LiHunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Fiber Functional Materials, School of Packaging Materials and Engineering, Zuzhou 412007, P.R. ChinaYing ChenHunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Fiber Functional Materials, School of Packaging Materials and Engineering, Zuzhou 412007, P.R. ChinaLiuyan ChenInstitute for Clinical Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan 570311, P.R. ChinaRong CaiNational & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Advanced Packaging Material and Technology, Hunan University of Technology, Zuzhou 412007, P.R. ChinaXizhi LiaoHunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Fiber Functional Materials, School of Packaging Materials and Engineering, Zuzhou 412007, P.R. ChinaTian ZhaoHunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Fiber Functional Materials, School of Packaging Materials and Engineering, Zuzhou 412007, P.R. ChinaYi ChenHunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Fiber Functional Materials, School of Packaging Materials and Engineering, Zuzhou 412007, P.R. China

2025en

ABI

Abstract

a training-induced strategy using zwitterionic-based composite materials. This bottom-up structural formation mechanism primarily relies on the asymmetric response of zwitterionic rigid and flexible chains to external mechanical stimuli, as well as the long-term memory effect of short chains in the rigid network from mechanical training. This simple mechanical training method significantly enhances the material's mechanical properties, including increasing the hydrogel's storage modulus by approximately threefold and making it resistant to cracks. These excellent mechanical properties make it highly promising for crack-resistant wearable sensors. Notably, leveraging its micron-scale directional cues, we also explored its potential as a substrate for directional cell growth.

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1039/d5mh00465a

Citations and references

Cited by 20 references

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