journal article·2026-07-14

Nonionic Coacervate‐Derived Gel with Programmable Stiffness and State‐Adaptive Healing Capability

Xiaohong Guo, Xiaoqiang Guo, Xuxu Yang, Yongrui Ti, Zhichao Yang, Jie Chen, Qian Pang, Wenjing Shi, Xiangju Feng, Feifei Wang, Di Wu, Kunsong Chen

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Facile stiffness switching enables adaptive flexible smart materials. However, conventional hydrogels exhibit fixed mechanical properties once formed, struggling to flexibly switch between fluid and solid states, while lacking damage repair and rapid dissociation capabilities. Here, we propose a “solvent‐regulated coacervate‐gel transition” strategy. In this strategy, a reinforced reversible hydrogen‐bond network between the polymer chains is formed after the hydration layer is disrupted by the poor solvent ethanol. This hydrogen‐bond network can be densified or progressively dissociated by modulating the solvent and temperature. Ultimately, a liquid coacervate with an initial modulus of 12.69 Pa can be gradually programmed into stiff hydrogels and further into a dense xerogel with a modulus exceeding 15.10 MPa and compressive strength of 26.47 MPa. Importantly, these distinct mechanical states are reversibly interconvertible. Materials across this broad mechanical range exhibit rapid state‐adaptive healing capability. They simultaneously maintain environmental stability under extreme pH and ionic environments, together with favorable biocompatibility. This work offers a new paradigm of performance‐programmable smart materials for intelligent logistics monitoring, flexible wearable sensors, and biointegrated adaptive systems.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications · Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials · Polymer composites and self-healing

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Affiliations

College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science Zhejiang University Hangzhou P. R. China

The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine Harbin P. R. China

Center for X‐Mechanics Department of Engineering Mechanics Zhejiang University Hangzhou P. R. China

College of Agriculture & Biotechnology/Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Quality Improvement/Key Laboratory of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (Growth and Development) Zhejiang University Hangzhou P. R. China

College of Food Science and Engineering Tarim University/Production & Construction Group Key Laboratory of Special Agricultural Products Further Processing in Southern Xinjiang Aral Xinjiang P. R. China

Department of Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Health Science Center Ningbo University Ningbo P. R. China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · National Key Research and Development Program of China

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