writer：Hong Chen, Qiang Chen (co-first author), Rundong Hu, Hua Wang, Bi-min Zhang Newby, Yung Chang, and Jie Zheng*
keywords：double network hydrogel,strong, antifouling
source：期刊
specific source：Journal of Material Chemistry B
Issue time：2015年

Development of mechanically tough and biologically functional polymer hydrogels has great potential and promise for many applications. Herein, we synthesized a new type of hybrid physically-chemically crosslinked Agar/PAM double network (DN) hydrogels using a simple, one-pot method. Agar/PAM gels can be designed with desirable/balanced mechanical properties by varying network-forming parameters. A strong DN gel can achieve the highest tensile stress of 3.3MPa at failure strain of 2400% while a tough DN gel can achieved the tensile strain of 3700% at failure stress of 2.8 MPa. Besides excellent mechanical properties, Agar/PAM DN hydrogels exhibited free shapeable property to form any complex shapes, as well as excellent antifouling property to highly resist protein adsorption, cell adhesion, and bacteria attachment. The relationship between mechanical properties and antifouling performance was also discussed. We hope that the combination of the mechanical and antifouling properties will make Agar/PAM gels as promising “biomimetic” materials for many bio-inert applications.