Magnetic Regulation of Thermo‐Chemotherapy from a Cucurbit[7]uril‐Crosslinked Hybrid Hydrogel

This work presents a noncovalent‐bonded hydrogel network, which is assembled by utilizing cucurbit[7]uril as a supramolecular linker to "stick" superparamagnetic γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles onto catechol‐functionalized chitosan. Cucurbit[7]uril not only facilitates host‐guest recognition with the catechol derivatives, but also forms robust electrostatic interactions with the γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles, endowing the formed hybrid hydrogel with both thermo‐ and chemotherapy modalities under an alternating magnetic field.

Abstract

The fabrication, characterization, and therapy efficiency of a noncovalent‐bonded hydrogel network, which is assembled by utilizing cucurbit[7]uril as a supramolecular linker to "stick" superparamagnetic γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles onto the polymer backbone of catechol‐functionalized chitosan are described. The unique barrel‐shaped structure of cucurbit[7]uril not only facilitates host–guest recognition with the catechol derivatives, but also forms robust electrostatic interactions between its carbonyl portals and the γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles in a supramolecular manner, which leaves the physical and chemical properties of the nanoparticles intact. The γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles display vibrational movement and heat generation under an alternating magnetic field, endowing the formed hybrid supramolecular hydrogel with both thermo‐ and chemotherapy modalities, which are demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. Here, a facile strategy is introduced to construct noncovalent interactions between a polymer matrix and the incorporated nanoparticles, which is amendable to a wide range of biomedical and industrial applications.

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