Printable homocomposite hydrogels with synergistically reinforced molecular-colloidal networks

Abstract

Composites which are made up of a single polymer, and yet allow modulation of the mechanical properties of the matrix without stress concentration, are challenging to fabricate. Here, the authors design a selfreinforced homocomposite alginate hydrogel with enhanced mechanical properties incorporating soft dendritic alginate colloids in the matrix and demonstrate its application in extrusion printing.