Design of well-defined hydrogels by nanogel engineering

We develop tailor-made functional nanogels to create novel nanobiomaterials (nanogel engineering) by self-assembling of functional associating polymers as building blocks. Self-assembled nanogels containing polymerizable groups (nanogelomers) were designed as key building blocks. Hybrid hydrogels were prepared by copolymerization of the nanogelomers in the presence or absence of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) in semi-dilute aqueous condition. CHPMA nanogelomers acted as a cross-linker and CHP-MPC hybrid hydrogels were prepared. The hydrogels spontaneously trapped proteins. By adding ß-CD solution, trapped proteins were released as native form. The hydrogels are now applied to the artificial molecular chaperone system. We can control the formation of well-defined nano-structured hydrogels by polymerization of methacryloyl group-bearing nanogels in their appropriate condition.