supramolecular hydrogels using host-guest inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins

The development of self-healing materials with the ability to repair damage has received considerable attention. the challenge of the weak mechanical properties of host–guest-based selfhealable hydrogels was largely solved by employing the β-cyclodextrin dimer (bis-cd) as a host cross-linker. here new supramolecular hydrogel with high self-healing rate was synthesized via insitu copolymerization of the adamantane-containing monomer n-(1-adamantyl)acrylamide (adaam) and monomer acrylic acid (aac) in the β-cyclodextrin dimer (bis-cd) aqueous solution. bis-cd-ad gel displayed good self-healing ability, and could effectively heal in less than a few seconds.