Trace-stimuli-triggered controlled degradation for hydrogel adhesives.

ABSTRACT: Biodegradable hydrogels are promising for tissue adhesives and implantable coatings, but are often limited by harsh degradation triggers and uncontrolled breakdown. Here, we present a biodegradable hydrogel design strategy that leverages a redox-responsive crosslinker with a low activation threshold, enabling spatiotemporally controlled degradation in response to trace levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The hydrogel undergoes rapid and complete degradation, even under low redox stress, disassembling entirely within 2 h under 0.1% (w/w) ROS, and 24 h at concentrations as low as 0.0001% (w/w) (37°C). Functioning as a tissue adhesive, the hydrogel forms bonds within 5 s, maintains strong wet adhesion (200 J/m²), and exhibits excellent sealing performance in both in vitro and i

SUBMITTER: Li S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12805828 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature