Robot-Assisted\nSynthesis of Structure-Controlled Star-Cluster\nHydrogels with Targeted Mechanophysical Properties for Biomedical\nApplications

Advancements in polymer chemistry have enabled the design\nof macromolecular\nstructures with tailored properties for diverse applications. Reversible\naddition–fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization\nis a controlled technique for precise polymer design. Automation tools\nfurther enhance polymer synthesis by enabling the rapid, reproducible\npreparation of polymer libraries. This study utilizes an automated\nplatform and a biologically friendly bio-Fenton RAFT synthesis method\nto create hydrogels with embedded star polymers derived from complex\nblock copolymers with controlled block lengths and sequences. Automation\nimproves the efficiency compared to manual methods, while the choice\nof prepolymer and polymerization techniques ensures biocompatibility.\nHydrogels formed by cross-linking linear block copolymers exhibit\ntunable physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. By systematically\naltering the prepolymer block sequences, promising hydrogel candidates\nfor enhanced cell biocompatibility and proliferation are identified.\nThese synthetic hydrogels mimic cellular microenvironments and offer\na robust platform for biomedical applications, paving the way for\nan efficient hydrogel design and synthesis.