Effects of Surfactant and Urea on Dynamics and Viscoelastic Properties of Hydrophobically Assembled Supramolecular Hydrogel.

ABSTRACT: Physically associated hydrogels based on strong hydrophobic interactions often have attractive mechanical properties that combine processability with elasticity. However, there is a need to study such interactions and understand their relation to the macroscopic hydrogel properties. Therefore, we use the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and urea as reagents that disrupt hydrophobic interactions. The model hydrogel is based on a segmented copolymer between poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydrophobic dimer fatty acid (DFA). We show that both agents influence viscoelastic properties, dynamics, and relaxation processes of the model hydrogel. In particular, the relaxation time is significantly reduced by urea, as compared to SDS, whereas the surfactant causes a decrease of the modulus of

SUBMITTER: Mihajlovic M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6041769 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature