Squid/synthetic polymer double-network gel: elaborated anisotropy and outstanding fracture toughness characteristics

Abstract The hierarchical anisotropy of a biotissue plays an essential role in its elaborate functions. To mimic the anisotropy-based functions of biotissues, soft and wet synthetic hydrogels with sophisticated biotissue-like anisotropy have been extensively explored. However, most existing synthetically manufactured anisotropic hydrogels exhibit fundamental anisotropy and poor mechanical toughness characteristics. In this paper, natural/synthetic hybrid double-network (DN) hydrogels with hierarchical anisotropy and high toughness characteristics are reported. These DN gels are prepared directly by using a squid mantle as an anisotropic soft bioproduct for the primary network and polyacrylamide (PAAm) as a synthetic polymer for the secondary network. The obtained squid/PAAm DN gel maintains the complex orientation of the muscle fibers of the squid mantle and exhibits anisotropic, enhanced mechanical properties and excellent fracture resistance due to its unique composite structure. This hybrid strategy provides a general method for preparing hydrogels with elaborated anisotropy and determining functions derived from the anisotropy.