Preparation and characterization of double network hydrogel with high-strength and self-healing

A novel biocompatible chitosan-based hydrogel with double network (DN) was designed and fabricated by combining dynamic host-guest interaction, stable disulfide bonds and intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Analysis results illustrates that the dynamic host-guest interaction gave hydrogel self-healing ability, while the disulfide bonds led to the excellent mechanical properties of hydrogel. At the same time, the combination of double network improved the elastic modulus of hydrogel compared with single network hydrogels. Moreover, the double network hydrogel can be degraded for a period of time. In view of these great properties, the target prepared hydrogel exhibits great potential as a tissue engineering material.