A chemical reaction drives the spatiotemporal self-assembly of supramolecular hydrogels

The spatiotemporal control of supramolecular hydrogel self-assembly achieved by chemical reaction has been summarized. After discussing how to control supramolecular hydrogel self-assembly in space and time using various chemical reactions (networks), future research in this emerging field is suggested.

Abstract

Supramolecular structures are widespread in living systems and are usually spatiotemporally regulated by sophisticated metabolic processes to enable vital biological functions. Inspired by living systems, enormous efforts have been made to achieve spatiotemporal control over the self-assembly of supramolecular materials in a synthetic scenario by coupling a chemical reaction with a molecular self-assembly process. In this review, we focused on the work related to supramolecular hydrogels that are spatially and temporally regulated using a chemical reaction. First, we summarized how spatially controlled self-assembly of supramolecular hydrogels can be achieved via chemical reaction-instructed self-assembly, and the application of such self-assembly methodology in biotherapeutics was also discussed. Second, we reviewed dynamic supramolecular hydrogels driven by chemical reaction networks that can evolve their structures and properties as a function of time. Third, we discussed recent advances in controlling the self-assembly of supramolecular hydrogels in space and time through a reaction-diffusion coupled self-assembly approach. Finally, we provided an outlook on the further development of spatiotemporally controlled supramolecular hydrogels using chemical reaction in the future.