ROMP Synthesis of Side-Chain Ferrocene-Containing Polyelectrolyte and Its Redox-Responsive Hydrogels Showing Dramatically Improved Swelling with β-Cyclodextrin

A new side-chain ferrocene (Fc)-containing polyelectrolyte has been synthesized by controlled ring-opening metathesis polymerization of a water-soluble Fc-containing norbornene-based quaternary ammonium salt, as well as the corresponding covalently cross-linked polyelectrolyte hydrogel. In order to provide Fc-containing supramolecular polyelectrolyte hydrogels whose swelling property is largely improved by host-guest interaction, a covalently cross-linked polyelectrolyte hydrogel is soaked into the beta-CD aqueous solution to form beta-CD@Fc supramolecular polyelectrolyte hydrogel, or alternatively the quaternary ammonium salt supramolecular monomer is first formed, then copolymerized with a crosslinking agent to fabricate the supramolecular hydrogel with better water absorption ability. All the Fc-containing hydrogels exhibited good redox-responsiveness with swelling-shrinking behaviors by chemically reversibly adjusting the disassembly/assembly of beta-CD@Fc inclusion complexes. This is the first example of side-chain Fc-containing polycationic supramolecular hydrogels possessing swelling-shrinking properties based on the splitting/combining of beta-CD and Fc units, and potential applications are expected as controlled drug delivery and actuators.

Automated summary

A new side-chain ferrocene (Fc)-containing polyelectrolyte hydrogel has been synthesized, showing improved swelling properties through controlled polymerization and host-guest interactions. The redox-responsive hydrogels have potential applications in controlled drug delivery and actuators.