Journal
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
Volume 27, Issue 35, Pages 8928-8939Publisher
WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
DOI: 10.1002/chem.202100490
Keywords
Institute and/or researcher Twitter usernames: @prof_djadams; hydrogels; pH-responsiveness; kinetic control; urease-urea reaction; dynamic gels
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Funding
- University of Glasgow
- EPSRC [EP/S019472/1]
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Supramolecular hydrogels are widely used in various fields such as cell culturing, catalysis, sensing, etc., and require specific properties which are often prepared through pH changes. The urease-urea reaction can be used to control hydrogel properties by regulating pH increase, providing an effective way to prepare gels with different properties.
Supramolecular hydrogels are useful in many areas such as cell culturing, catalysis, sensing, tissue engineering, drug delivery, environmental remediation and optoelectronics. The gels need specific properties for each application. The properties arise from a fibrous network that forms the matrix. A common method to prepare hydrogels is to use a pH change. Most methods result in a sudden pH jump and often lead to gels that are hard to reproduce and control. The urease-urea reaction can be used to control hydrogel properties by a uniform and controlled pH increase as well as to set up pH cycles. The reaction involves hydrolysis of urea by urease and production of ammonia which increases the pH. The rate of ammonia production can be controlled which can be used to prepare gels with differing properties. Herein, we show how the urease-urea reaction can be used for the construction of next generation functional materials.
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