Reinforcing DNA Supramolecular Hydrogel with Polymeric Multiple-Unit Linker

While supramolecular hydrogels have received grow-ing interest due to their unique dynamic features, their relatively weak mechanical properties have largely limited their biomedical applications. In this study, we propose and demonstrate a strategy to reinforce the mechanical properties of supramolecu-lar hydrogel by introducing polymeric multiple-unit linker (PMUL), which incorporates multiple supramo-lecular units into a polymeric backbone to crosslink supramolecular hydrogel. We demonstrated that PMUL can effectively improve the kinetic stability of supramolecular crosslinkers through multiple-unit in-teraction in a DNA supramolecular hydrogel model system, thus leading to higher mechanical strength. Meanwhile, the dynamic features of the supramolec-ular hydrogels have been well preserved, including shear-thinning, self-healing properties, and revers-ible thermal responsiveness. This strategy offers a simple but effective way for mechanical reinforce-ment of supramolecular hydrogels to construct nov-el biomaterials.