Issue 12, 2020

Base-triggered self-amplifying degradable polyurethanes with the ability to translate local stimulation to continuous long-range degradation

Abstract

A new type of base-triggered self-amplifying degradable polyurethane is reported that degrades under mild conditions, with the release of increasing amounts of amine product leading to self-amplified degradation. The polymer incorporates a base-sensitive Fmoc-derivative into every repeating unit to enable highly sensitive amine amplified degradation. A sigmoidal degradation curve for the linear polymer was observed consistent with a self-amplifying degradation mechanism. An analogous cross-linked polyurethane gel was prepared and also found to undergo amplified breakdown. In this case, a trace amount of localized base initiates the degradation, which in turn propagates through the material in an amplified manner. The results demonstrate the potential utility of these new generation polyurethanes in enhanced disposability and as stimuli responsive materials.

Graphical abstract: Base-triggered self-amplifying degradable polyurethanes with the ability to translate local stimulation to continuous long-range degradation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
31 Dec 2019
Accepted
28 Feb 2020
First published
03 Mar 2020
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2020,11, 3326-3331

Base-triggered self-amplifying degradable polyurethanes with the ability to translate local stimulation to continuous long-range degradation

Y. Xu, S. Sen, Q. Wu, X. Zhong, R. H. Ewoldt and S. C. Zimmerman, Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 3326 DOI: 10.1039/C9SC06582B

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