Fig. 1: Schematic representation of the network structures and gelation mechanisms. | Nature Communications

Fig. 1: Schematic representation of the network structures and gelation mechanisms.

From: Bridge-rich and loop-less hydrogel networks through suppressed micellization of multiblock polyelectrolytes

Fig. 1

Two types of hydrogel networks. a In the traditional hydrogel network formed through the self-assembly of ABA block copolymers, the nodes are surrounded by loops. b In the proposed densely linked network, the coacervate nodes are closely linked by a large number of bridges. c Schematic of the hierarchical assembly mechanism from the unimer to the hydrogel network in three different polyelectrolytes. As the polymer concentration increased, the triblock polyelectrolytes formed micelles, leading to the formation of a tri-PEC (polyelectrolyte complex) hydrogel network with a sparsely linked structure. Pentablock polyelectrolytes and nonablock polyelectrolytes preferentially formed netmers with branched structures and produced the densely linked penta- and nona-PEC hydrogel networks, respectively.

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