Novel thermo-responsive formation of a hydrogel by stereo-complexation between PLLA-PEG-PLLA and PDLA-PEG-PDLA block copolymers

Abstract

Gel formation was discovered in an aqueous mixture of enantiomeric triblock copolymers, PLLA-PEG-PLLA and PDLA-PEG-PDLA. This system is characteristic in that an interesting sol-gel transition was induced by the stereo-complexation of the PLLA and PDLA segments of the block copolymers around 37°C. The process of gel formation was clearly monitored by the rheological change, and the responsibility of the stereo-complex formation for the gelation was confirmed by wide-angle X-ray scattering. The mechanism of this gel formation is discussed in relation to its potential applications.

Publication Title

Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics

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