Biocompatible self-healing hydrogels based on boronic acid-functionalized polymer and laponite nanocomposite for water pollutant removal

Abstract

The problem of global water pollution is becoming more and more severe, among which organic dyes and heavy metal ions are two typical types of the most common pollutants. The adsorption method for water puri cation and wastewater treatment is widely studied and applied. Hydrogel has unique advantages in the eld of adsorption due to its three-dimensional porous structure. In this paper, a new type of self-healing hydrogels based on reversible covalent bond were prepared by mixing poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and 2-aminophenylboronic acid modi ed polyacrylic acid (PAA-2APBA). In addition, the introduction of laponite nanoparticles into the hydrogel can increase both the mechanical strength and adsorption e ciency. This low-cost PAA-2APBA/PVA/laponite nano-composite hydrogel could e ciently remove the organic dyes and heavy metal ions in model waste water through simple immersion, which makes it have application prospects in the elds of both biomedical and environmental engineering.

Cross-Linking of Sugar-Derived Polyethers and Boronic Acids for Renewable, Self-Healing, and Single-Ion Conducting Organogel Polymer Electrolytes

“…The reversible reaction of boronic acids with cis -1,2 or cis -1,3 diols to form boronate esters has been leveraged in applications such as glucose and chemosensors, − drug delivery systems, − and chromatography. − When combined with polymeric materials, this reversible chemistry can generate functional, cross-linked hydro- or organogel networks. The formation of boronate ester cross-links is reversible, depending on pH, temperature, and the presence of other hydroxylated compounds. − Therefore, boronic acid networks often exhibit self-healing properties, − are injectable, , and have stimuli-responsive behavior . The alginate-boronic acid hydrogel developed by Hong et al demonstrates for example many of the desirable properties of boronic acid-diol cross-linking: it shows self-healing and high strain to failure and is responsive to pH and glucose concentration …”

“…Many of these self-healing networks are made from reaction of a boronic-acid-containing polymer (often a polymer containing phenylboronic acid (PBA) side chains) with a second, diol-containing polymer, such as poly­(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), or catechol derivatives of polymers. ,− , Alternatively, both components can exist within the same polymer, leading to intramolecular cross-linking and gel formation. − …”

Self‐healing polymers containing nanomaterials for biomedical engineering applications: A review

“…60,61 That is why nanoparticle-based self-healing polymers have attracted attention recently for use in different fields, such as coatings, robotics, water refinery, and biomedical applications. [62][63][64] Excellent reviews go into great detail about the development of self-healing hydrogels and their mechanisms. Mechanisms to fabricate self-healing hydrogels can be generally divided into two categories.…”

A latent reversible ratiometric optical pH sensing probe based on phenylboronic acid for alkaline pH detection and applications in test paper and alkalotic HK-2 cells

“…18–20 To date, a lot of boronic acid-based hydrogels have been designed and applied in the biological field for pH-regulated healing. 21–24 Additionally, the pH-controlled interaction between boronic acid and diol moieties is of great convenience for saccharide and nucleic acid sensing. 25–27 To the best of our knowledge, most of the fluorescent pH organic probes are constructed based on acid–base activated phenol, quinines, pyridines, fluorescein groups and so on.…”