POS8-0283
Modular Design of Crosslinked Network Polymers with Tunable Mechanical and Adhesive Properties
Topic
S8. Frontiers of Functional Polymers in Biology and Medicine
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Heesuk KIM
Jinhye BAE
Presenter(s)
Tang Weijia (KAIST)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Bioadhesive polymers have emerged as promising materials for tissue repair and regeneration owing to their ability to conform and adhere to biological surfaces. For successful application, precise control of both mechanical and adhesive properties is essential; however, achieving independent control over these properties is difficult. To address this challenge, we developed a modular crosslinked polymer platform based on a reactive poly(pentafluorophenyl acrylate) (PPFPA) precursor. The mechanical properties of the network polymer were tailored by varying the density of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) crosslinkers, while the adhesive properties were independently modulated through the incorporation of dopamine moieties. We demonstrate that at a fixed crosslinker density, the resulting network polymer maintained a nearly constant storage modulus, whereas its adhesive strength increased with increasing dopamine content. The biocompatibility and safety of the network polymers were further assessed through cytotoxicity, hemolysis, and histological analyses, which revealed low cell toxicity and favorable tissue responses. Collectively, the results demonstrate that the PPFPA-based modular design strategy enables decoupled tuning of mechanical and adhesive properties while maintaining good biocompatibility, highlighting its potential as a versatile new bioadhesive material platform.
