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Double network hydrogel with high mechanical strength: Performance, progress and future perspective

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Abstract

With high water content (∼90 wt%) and significantly improved mechanical strength (∼MPa), double network (DN) hydrogels have emerged as promising biomaterials with widespread applications in biomedicine. In recent years, DN hydrogels with extremely high mechanical strength have achieved great advance, and scientists have designed a series of natural and biomimetic DN hydrogels with novel functions including low friction, low wear, mechanical anisotropy and cell compatibility. These advances have also led to new design of biocompatible DN hydrogels for regeneration of tissues such as cartilage. In this paper, we reviewed the strategies of designing high-strength DN hydrogel and analyzed the factors that affect DN hydrogel properties. We also discussed the challenges and future development of the DN hydrogel in view of its potential as biomaterials for their biomedical applications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MOE Key Laboratory for Non-Equilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049, China

    YongMei Chen, Kun Dong & ZhenQi Liu

  2. Biomedical Engineering and Biomechanics Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049, China

    YongMei Chen

  3. College of Chemistry & Material Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710062, China

    Feng Xu

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  1. YongMei Chen
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  2. Kun Dong
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  3. ZhenQi Liu
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  4. Feng Xu
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Correspondence to YongMei Chen or Feng Xu.

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Chen, Y., Dong, K., Liu, Z. et al. Double network hydrogel with high mechanical strength: Performance, progress and future perspective. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 55, 2241–2254 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-012-4857-y

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