Amylopectin based hydrogel strain sensor with good biocompatibility, high toughness and stable anti-swelling in multiple liquid media

Anti-swelling hydrogels have been used as underwater sensors, underwater actuators and artificial biomimetic cartilage. In order to improve the anti-swelling property, most hydrogels introduce environment-unfriendly chemical crosslinkers or organic solvents into the polymer network to enhance the crosslinking density of the network, which limits their application in the body. Therefore, we settled a dense hydrogen-bond network by introducing hyperbranched amylopectin (Amy) into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to prepare a non-toxic, biocom-patible, tough hydrogel sensor. In addition, the hydrogels exhibit significant anti-swelling performance in various liquid media (such as swelling rates = 3.55%, in seawater) and excellent mechanical properties due to strong intermolecular hydrogen bond between Amy and PVA as well as the salting-out effect induced by sodium chloride (NaCl). Moreover, the hydrogels show moderate sensitivity (GF = 4.96), rapid response, signal stability and negligible hysteresis, which can be used to detect a variety of physiological signals and human movements. More significantly, the hydrogels have excellent biocompatibility and potential application prospects in the implantable sensors and medical fields.

Automated summary

By introducing hyperbranched amylopectin into polyvinyl alcohol, a dense hydrogen-bond network is formed, resulting in a non-toxic, biocompatible, tough hydrogel sensor with significant anti-swelling performance and excellent mechanical properties. The hydrogel shows moderate sensitivity, rapid response, signal stability, and negligible hysteresis, making it suitable for detecting various physiological signals and human movements. It also has excellent biocompatibility and potential application prospects in implantable sensors and medical fields.